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STAMFORD, Conn. — Madonna Badger, whose three daughters and both parents died during the fire at her Shippan Avenue home Christmas morning, plans to sue the city of Stamford for negligence and wrongful conduct.
Badger's notice of claim says her civil rights were violated when she was not warned or compensated when her home and possessions were ordered to be destroyed after the fire. She is seeking compensation for the home, which had been valued at more than $3 million. The destruction of the home also intentionally ruined evidence, and the deprivation of remedies available to Badger, the claim said.
She is also looking for compensation for personal injuries, extreme emotional distress, and mental anguish, the claim said.
“Madonna Badger’s damages arising from the perils of the fire, including the negligent infliction of emotional distress she endured while in the zone of danger and while attempting to rescue her children and parents are continuous and permanent,” the claim said.
When reached for comment Badger’s Attorney, Frank Corso of Corso Law LLC in Massachusetts, said he does not comment on cases.
Chief Building Official Robert DeMarco and Director of Operations Ernie Orgera are specifically named in the claim.
"This is undoubtedly a tragic situation, and it is understandable that one would want to place blame in a situation like this. However, it is misguided to direct blame at the City and its Officials," Joseph Capalbo II, director of Legal Affairs for the city said in a statement Friday afternoon.
Badger’s claim is dated May 29, but was not received by the Town Clerk’s office until Friday.
Matthew Badger, the estranged husband of Madonna, and father to the girls, filed intent to sue the city at the beginning of May. However no further action has been taken as of yet, Town Clerk Donna Loglisci said.
Comments (7)
This is true chutzpah---and unbelievable greed. Her paramour's actions lead to the horrible death of 5 people and she sues Stamford for monetary damages? Disgraceful. I suppose if her lawsuit doesn't earn her a big payday, she can sell their likenesses to be put on salt shakers, mugs, and refrigerator magnets to be sold at the Cracker Barrel gift shop. Gotta profit from this tragedy somehow, eh, Ms Badger?
Tearing down the house without her permission and not giving her a chance to fence it off instead may give her basis for some kind of claim strictly limited to what may have been salvageable after the fire. I wonder if she had any insurance. If she had insurance, the insurance company may be fighting any claim based on not being able to get their investigators into the house before it was demolished.
The City certainly is not liable for the fire itself, unless she can show the building department did not properly inspect the work while it was being done.
The story doesn't mention if she is sueing the genius boyfriend who seems to have started the fire.
Tearing down the house without her permission and not giving her a chance to fence it off instead may give her basis for some kind of claim strictly limited to what may have been salvageable after the fire. I wonder if she had any insurance. If she had insurance, the insurance company may be fighting any claim based on not being able to get their investigators into the house before it was demolished.
The City certainly is not liable for the fire itself, unless she can show the building department did not properly inspect the work while it was being done.
The story doesn't mention if she is sueing the genius boyfriend who seems to have started the fire.
She should be suing the man she was sleeping with! And herself for that matter. Those children and her parents were sleeping in a part of the house that had no CO, no smoke detectors... What was she thinking..? Then she runs out of the house with him and leaves everyone else behind? This is just craziness! I'm very sorry for her loss, but when enjoying a fire with your intimate partner is more important on Christmas Eve and not making sure that fire is out under the conditions the house was in and more important than your family, she just needs to step up to the plate and accept full responsibility for this tragedy.
She has a very good point if the city tore down her house without her consent. I honestly figured that SHE wanted it taken down so quickly. Private property is just that and if that parcel was in her name no demolition at all should have been undertaken without her consent.
Did the firefighters get her consent before risking their lives in their attempt to save her family from a fire that her boyfriend started? Following your train of thought, the firemen would have been trespassing. Maybe she should sue them too. This is an egregious attempt to profit from her daughters' deaths-- nothing more or less. As I recall the house was a safety hazard and required tear down. It's taken 5 months for Ms Badger and her ambulance chaser to come up with a novel frivolous cause for filing. They are both a disgrace.
Wonderful. Now Madonna Badger wants us taxpayers to pay for her boyfriends utter stupidity! Who do you think you are suing when you sue the city! I'm extremely sad for your loss, but dont take it out on us taxpayers.