Displaced tenants file lawsuit over San Francisco building fire

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Dozens of tenants have filed a lawsuit against the owner of a San Francisco building after a fire killed one person and displaced dozens in January.

Over 50 people lost their homes and businesses during the fire.

PHOTOS: Crews battle massive fire in SF's Mission District

Marcela Cordova and her daughter currently live with a roommate on Treasure Island, which is not ideal when you work and go to school in San Francisco.

They used to live at the corner of 22nd and Mission streets until January 28. "Our fire escape was blocked with metal bars, like those, but I couldn't open it. So then we started both panicking," Cordova said.

Firefighters eventually got them out unharmed, but that emotional distress is at the heart of a civil lawsuit filed this week on behalf of 47 displaced tenants.

"We believe that the conditions at the property caused the fire, and also caused the fire to spread and also caused the horrific experience of our clients trying to escape the fire," attorney Steven McDonald said.

The owner named in the lawsuit is Hawk Lou. McDonald said he did not properly maintain the building.

"There were issues with the electrical, plumbing, heating systems throughout. Lou would do shoddy type of repairs, wouldn't take out permits," McDonald said.

The San Francisco Fire Department investigation did find the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault or failure.

ABC7 News reached out to Lou for comment on the lawsuit.

The tenants in this lawsuit are hoping to be compensated for pain and suffering.

It could be a year before the lawsuit is resolved and Mission Local reports the owner is looking to sell the property for $20 million. The tenants' attorney told ABC7 News a sale would not impact the lawsuit.