Local Woman Sues Apartment Complex Owners Over Fire That Left Her Homeless, Alleges Years of Neglect and Retaliation
A devastating fire at a Farmington Hills apartment complex has left one woman without a home, and she's now taking the owners to court. Theresa Stott, a mother of two who lived at Botsford Place Terrace Apartments, claims that years of neglect by management and retaliation against her after repeated complaints led to the tragic event.
According to Stott, the fire broke out on April 19th, just hours before Easter, when she discovered smoke pouring out of the ceiling vent in her bathroom. She immediately called 911 and warned her neighbors about the potential danger, but allegedly, no one responded to the warnings from smoke detectors that didn't sound.
The incident has raised questions about the fire's cause and the apartment complex's safety record. Stott disputes the official account of the fire, claiming that she had just put away groceries and shut off the bathroom light when she started hearing what sounded like running water. She says that smoke was pouring out of the ceiling vent, but no one alerted her or her neighbors to the danger.
Stott alleges that the apartment complex has a long history of neglect and safety issues. Records show that inspections have identified "structural issues" with the roof and ceiling, as well as incomplete repairs and expired permits for appliances like the water heater. Stott's own experience is consistent with this narrative, which she claims began years ago.
The lawsuit seeks damages for lost housing, destroyed property, emotional harm, financial losses tied to displacement and unemployment. Stott has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her and her daughters rebuild their lives, as they face the daunting task of finding new homes after losing everything in the fire.
Farmington Hills Fire Marshal Jason Baloga has stated that firefighters tried to salvage what could be saved from the destroyed apartments but acknowledges that smoke alarms should be checked monthly for proper function. However, Stott is concerned about whether anyone took adequate measures to prevent such a disaster and how long it will take to rebuild her life after the fire.
The case highlights concerns about apartment complex safety, accountability among management, and access to resources for affected residents.
A devastating fire at a Farmington Hills apartment complex has left one woman without a home, and she's now taking the owners to court. Theresa Stott, a mother of two who lived at Botsford Place Terrace Apartments, claims that years of neglect by management and retaliation against her after repeated complaints led to the tragic event.
According to Stott, the fire broke out on April 19th, just hours before Easter, when she discovered smoke pouring out of the ceiling vent in her bathroom. She immediately called 911 and warned her neighbors about the potential danger, but allegedly, no one responded to the warnings from smoke detectors that didn't sound.
The incident has raised questions about the fire's cause and the apartment complex's safety record. Stott disputes the official account of the fire, claiming that she had just put away groceries and shut off the bathroom light when she started hearing what sounded like running water. She says that smoke was pouring out of the ceiling vent, but no one alerted her or her neighbors to the danger.
Stott alleges that the apartment complex has a long history of neglect and safety issues. Records show that inspections have identified "structural issues" with the roof and ceiling, as well as incomplete repairs and expired permits for appliances like the water heater. Stott's own experience is consistent with this narrative, which she claims began years ago.
The lawsuit seeks damages for lost housing, destroyed property, emotional harm, financial losses tied to displacement and unemployment. Stott has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her and her daughters rebuild their lives, as they face the daunting task of finding new homes after losing everything in the fire.
Farmington Hills Fire Marshal Jason Baloga has stated that firefighters tried to salvage what could be saved from the destroyed apartments but acknowledges that smoke alarms should be checked monthly for proper function. However, Stott is concerned about whether anyone took adequate measures to prevent such a disaster and how long it will take to rebuild her life after the fire.
The case highlights concerns about apartment complex safety, accountability among management, and access to resources for affected residents.
, i mean, can't we expect our homes to be safe? the fact that she had to put up with years of neglect and retaliation from the management team is absolutely appalling 
, and now her whole life has been turned upside down because of it. the fire was a disaster, but it's not just about the physical damage - it's about the emotional toll it takes on people who are already struggling. i hope she gets justice and can rebuild her life, but this should be a wake-up call for all apartment complexes to take their safety responsibilities seriously 
OMG this is like soooo messed up! I'm literally shaking just thinking about Theresa Stott's experience at Botsford Place Terrace Apartments 
. Like, years of neglect by management and retaliation against her after complaining? That's insane! 
And to think that the fire was prevented but no one responded to the smoke detectors because they didn't sound? 
. I'm all about accountability here, apartment complex owners need to step up their game and prioritize resident safety above profits 
. And poor Theresa, I hope she gets the justice she deserves and can rebuild her life soon 
Fire alarms should be checked monthly, period! 
. I cant believe that someone has to go through this kinda pain & struggle. The fact that she had to warn her neighbors multiple times but no one took action is just mind-blowing 
. I mean, come on, how can you have a roof with structural issues and not fix it? Or expired permits for appliances that could be easily maintained? It's just basic human decency & responsibility.
. This is not just about the woman who lost her home, this is about all of us who deserve better living conditions and safety in our homes 
. We should be holding these owners accountable and making sure they're held to a higher standard. The system needs to change 
.
. I hope she gets the justice (and compensation) she deserves, and maybe this whole debacle will finally make apartment complex owners take their responsibilities seriously 
.
I'm so sad to hear about Theresa Stott's experience at Botsford Place Terrace Apartments. It sounds like the owners have been neglecting their responsibilities as a landlord for years, putting the lives of tenants at risk 
.
. I mean, if she's saying that she saw smoke pouring out of the ceiling vent and no one warned her or her neighbors, it seems pretty suspicious to me 
.
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it's not just about the apartment complex's reputation, it's about making sure these ppl have a safe place to live. 
It's not like Theresa Stott was trying to be dramatic when she heard running water and saw smoke pouring out - that does sound pretty suspicious. And honestly, can we talk about how lazy it is for management to ignore all these "structural issues" with the roof and ceiling? Like, someone needs to get on it ASAP before more people lose their homes. 
I feel bad for her and her two kids who lost everything in that fire 
. What inspections were done, exactly? By whom? And when? Farmington Hills Fire Marshal Jason Baloga seems pretty hesitant to take responsibility, and I don't blame him – someone needs to investigate this further 
. Until then, I'm keeping my armchair detective hat on 
.
It's not just about the woman and her daughters, it's about all the other residents who might be at risk if something like this happens again... 
- all these years of neglect & retaliation from management? That's just insane 
. I hope she gets justice 
, but at the same time, how can we prevent this from happening again in other places?! 
.
I feel so bad for Theresa Stott and her two kids, they're totally devastated 
.