By RONALD J. HANSEN
The Detroit News
DETROIT — Even though the city of Detroit routinely fails to maintain working fire hydrants, it can’t be held financially liable for the deaths of two children and another man in a fire that authorities couldn’t quickly extinguish, the Michigan Court of Appeals has decided.
A three-judge panel agreed with the city’s lawyers that state law shields it from lawsuits involving neglect of fire hydrants in virtually all cases.
In doing so, the judges this week dismissed a case brought by Rhonda Davis, whose children, Rayshonda Nicole Pugh, 13, and Raymonda Nichelle Pugh, 11, died in a December 2000 fire. Davis’ 22-year-old boyfriend, Carlos Lumpkin, also died in the fire.
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