Son of Gabriel House fire victim files wrongful death lawsuit against facility

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A New Hampshire man is suing Gabriel House in Fall River for “the wrongful death of his mother,” who was one of ten residents who died from injuries sustained in the facility’s July 13 fire.

James Duddy filed the suit Thursday in Bristol Superior Court against both Gabriel House and Fire Systems, Inc of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

His mother, Margaret Duddy, was a Gabriel House died from injuries sustained in the fire at the age of 69.

Gabriel House owner Dennis A. Etzkorn and Karen Etzkorn were also personally named in the suit.

The suit states in part:

The defendant, Gabriel Care LLC, its agents, servants and employees, were negligent by their acts or omissions, in the management, staffing, training, supervision, and maintenance of the Gabriel House.

The suit also cites what it calls “dangerous conditions” of the facility, including insufficient and undertrained staff, residents smoking in the building where oxygen tanks were present and an insufficient emergency evacuation plan.

Also cited were fire and smoke detection and suppression systems that the suit says were not in compliance with safety codes and requirements.

The lawsuit cites conscious pain and suffering Duddy says was caused by Gabriel House and Etzkorns.

It also seeks punitive damages against all defendants.

Duddy is being represented by Sabra Law Offices in Somerset, Massachusetts.

Several other lawsuits have been filed related to the Gabriel House fire.

ABC6 has reached out to both the Etzkorns and Fire Systems Inc. for comment.

A representative for the Etzkorns said that they have no comment in the matter.