An Alameda County Superior Court judge has ruled that Oakland officials have a duty to act when they come across unsafe conditions in buildings such as the Ghost Ship warehouse, which burned a year ago, allowing a lawsuit against the city stemming from the fire to proceed.
In his ruling, Judge Brad Seligman permitted some allegations — such as the mandatory duty claims — to stand, while tossing others. The order means Oakland can be held liable for its actions and inaction leading up to the fire that killed 36 people. The city may appeal the decision.
Oakland had a “mandatory duty,” Seligman wrote last week, to fix the poor conditions of a building like the Fruitvale warehouse, which had been converted into a residential and performance space without city permission.