Buren v. Midwest Industries, Inc.

WADDILL, Commissioner.

The central question in this case is whether failure of the owners of a building to comply with applicable fire safety ordinances (for example, ordinances requiring sprinkler systems, fire walls and stops, etc.) results in liability for the deaths of firemen killed while fighting a fire. It may be assumed for purposes of analysis that there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that the deaths were proximately caused by the deceptive speed with which the fire suddenly enveloped the premises and that this would not have occurred if the building had been constructed…