Spring Branch property owner sued over fatal apartment fire

A Spring Branch property owner is being sued after a three-alarm apartment fire in Houston caused the death of a tenant.

Patricia Galen and others, on behalf of the deceased Jorge A. Galan, filed a lawsuit on Feb. 17 in Harris County District Court against Pebble Walk Apartments, owned by Gary Gates of Spring Branch, and others, citing negligence, violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, breach of contract and gross negligence.

Galen says on Feb, 19, 2011, Jorge Galan died as a result of the three-alarm fire that erupted at his home, Pebble Walk Apartments in Houston. According to the brief, fire alarms and sprinkler systems in the apartment failed to activate during the blaze.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages and court costs. They are being represented in the case by Houston attorney Michelle Blum.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-10006.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.