LA city attorney sues developer for massive DTLA apartment fire

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer filed a lawsuit Thursday against a property developer for $20 million in damages in connection to the massive downtown L.A. apartment fire in 2014.

The apartment complex, located on the 900 block of West Temple Street, caught fire Dec. 8, 2014. The fierce blaze completely destroyed the $25 million Da Vinci apartment complex, which was under construction at the time.

PHOTOS: Massive downtown Los Angeles apartment fire

The fire was later deemed arson. Dawud Abdulwali of Los Angeles was arrested and charged with one count each of arson of a structure and aggravated arson. He has pleaded not guilty.

Feuer's lawsuit claims the real estate developer Geoffrey H. Palmer and his company GH Palmer Associates are responsible for the damage caused by the fire, because they were negligent and failed to maintain the property according to code.

The suit also alleges that the developer used improper and defective construction methods, including failing to have an appropriate fire protection plan and appropriate water supply for fire suppression.

"We're talking about an array of basic precautions from everything to water to fire safety plans to construction materials that were used in the building," Feuer said. "We're going to be going to court and trying to do everything we can to be sure the taxpayers receive every penny we allege they're entitled to."

Eyewitness News attempted to contact the builder, but did not receive a response.