Woman whose toddler started deadly fire in The Bronx sues city and stove maker for $1.1 billion

The mother of a three-year-old who got accused of starting a fatal fire in 2017 at a Belmont apartment building, is suing various entities for an astonishing $1.1 billion.

December marked the 1st anniversary of the fire that destroyed the lives of many and ended the lives of 13 people.

Mark and Rita Yeboah filed a suit in the Bronx Supreme Court where they blame the stove manufacturer, the city, Con Edison, Capitol Fireproof Door Company, D & A Equities (building owner), and another four undisclosed entities.

The public responded with outrage once news of the lawsuit spread. The fire reportedly started on the first floor in the Yeboah’s apartment while three-year-old Micaiah Yeboah played with the stove.

When the fire began, Rita grabbed her two sons and fled the apartment, leaving the hallway door open behind her. The draft of air caused an intake of oxygen, resulting in the rapid spread of the fire.

The fire that started at 6:51 pm on December 28, 2017, at 2363 Prospect Ave. in Belmont killed 13 people. The Yeboah family’s lawyer said in a statement:

"The real facts are that they paid the building owner and the management company for a smoke alarm and requested that their decrepit stove is replaced. Had either or both been done, this tragedy never would have happened."

Residents are outraged at the turn of events, and everyone who had their lives changed forever on that fateful night, believe Rita Yeboah was negligent.

They are of the opinion that if she had adequately looked after her son and stopped him from playing with it, the tragedy would never have occurred.

26-year-old Jo said:

“Seriously? That’s wild. I have no words. How does the city owe her a billion dollars? Isn’t it negligence on her part?”

A flabbergasted 21-year-old Treasure Davis exclaimed:

“Oh, for real? For real? No, that’s crazy, she needs to go to jail. A bunch of people lost their lives; she gets nothing. I’m sorry, but no.”

Among the victims was the 28-year-old Emmanuel Mensah, an Army private who got to spend the holidays at home after basic training. Emmanuel died helping neighbors make it out of the flaming building.

An FDNY member responded:

“This is typical, people suing the city for something that was their own fault, to begin with. Her kid burns down the building and kills people, so taxpayers get it in the end.”

The fire in Belmont was the city’s deadliest fire since the Happy Land social-club arson in 1990, where 87 people died.

Similarly, Patricia Cummings has similar aspirations to that of the Yeboah’s. She is suing many entities, including the city for $120. She got fired in October after her controversial lesson on slavery went viral.

During the lesson she had black students lie on the floor while she stepped on their backs. The black students felt humiliated.

According to the agency spokesman, Doug Cohen, 37-year-old Patricia initially got reassigned before her final dismissal following an investigation and added:

“Ms. Cummings was terminated based on a thorough investigation and a review of her performance as an educator. We’ll review the complaint.”

On to a lawsuit of another kind. In October Tracy filed a lawsuit against Nicki Minaj for copyright infringement, therein she accused Nicki of sampling her song, ‘Baby Can I Hold You’ without her permission.

Tracy is suing for damages and also to stop Nicki from releasing the song again.

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