Clifford Law Offices Files Against Managers of County Building in Friday's Deadly Fire; Asks for 911 Tapes and Inspection of Building

On Tuesday, October 21, 2003, Clifford Law Offices filed a lawsuit against the management companies of the building that houses the Cook County administrative offices in the fire that killed six people and injured dozens of others Friday.

The personal injury/wrongful death law firm also asked the Cook County Circuit Court to order the city of Chicago to turn over all of the 911 tapes involving that incident as well as requested an inspection of the building as early as tomorrow morning.

Clifford Law Offices has hired three experts in building construction and fire safety procedures who would accompany attorneys Robert A. Clifford and Kevin P. Durkin, partner at Clifford Law Offices, at the inspection.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christine Konopka, 55, of the western suburbs who suffered severe smoke inhalation when she was trapped in a stairwell at 69 W. Washington St. during the blaze. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she was treated in intensive care and admitted for several days following the incident. She is an administrative assistant to Cook County State’s Attorney Dick Devine.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are U.S. Equities Realty, Inc., U.S. Equities Realty, LLC, U.S. Equities Asset Management and East Lake Management & Development Corp. of Chicago.