Lawsuit filed against Rogers Park apartment building where 3 women died
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Families of victims are now taking legal action, after the tragedy at a Rogers Park senior building, where three women were found dead less than two weeks ago, amid record-breaking heat.
Residents of the James Sneider Apartments have described the living conditions as "deplorable," and have said there wasn't any air conditioning or proper ventilation.
On Tuesday, one victim's son spoke out for the first time about his mother's death.
Veldarin Jackson said his mother, Janice Lee Reed, was taken too soon at the age of 68.
He said the deaths didn't have to happen as he walked CBS 2's Marissa Parra through the horrifying and heart-wrenching moments when he walked into her apartment, and it was already too late.
"My mom was right there, laid out on the bed, dead, and even then it was hot. Hot. When I say hot in there, but that was the last thing on my mind that the heat … I'm looking at her, and when I say hot, burning up in there," Jackson said.
Reed's family is filing legal action against the building's management and owners, accusing them of negligence and wrongful death.
The family's attorney, Larry Rogers Jr., said the temperature in Reed's room was more than 102 degrees when she died. He detailed several instances where complaints about the heat were made; not just by those who lived in the building, but also Ald. Maria Hadden (48th).
The lawsuit details that those complaints went ignored, and the building kept the heat on despite record heat outside.
Reed and two other women, ages 76 and 72, were all found dead in the building on Saturday, May 14.
It was only one day later that the cooling systems were finally turned on.
Reed, who had lived there for 11 years, was a proud mother, grandmother, even great grandmother.
She leaves behind a loss so heavy, that her son won't rest until he finds justice.
"My mom was my father, my mother, my best friend; I mean, just everything," Jackson said. "I don't want this to happen to no one else. I mean, I don't wish it upon anyone, period."
Rogers, a partner with the Power Rogers law firm, said the building refused to turn on the air conditioning for financial reasons, and lied to tenants, saying they couldn't do so until June 1.
Later on Tuesday, attorney Ben Crump, who is representing another victim's family, will discuss their own quest for justice.