Last December tragedy struck Oakland California when a local warehouse called the Ghost Ship caught fire and burned to the ground killing 36 people. It happened during an underground dance party so the building was full of people. The owner of the building is now receiving a $3 million payout from the company that insured the building. Commercial Industrial Buildings Owners Alliance Insurance Company is the business that insured it and it was confirmed last Wednesday outside an Oakland courtroom that the owner, Chor Ng would be receiving a payment from them.
Defendant attorney Curtis Briggs stated,
“She essentially created this fire trap by being a slumlord. [The Ngs] didn’t see the human life, they saw the dollar signs.”
It’s worth noting that Ng has not been charged in the criminal case, only Max Harris and Derick Almena have, the Ghost Ships tenants. They just plead not guilty to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter. It is a controversial subject because many believe Ng should be prosecuted criminally too. She is the subject of many civil lawsuits.
