Farmington Hills Woman Sues Landlord Over Fire That Left Her Homeless, Alleging Years-Long Pattern of Neglect
A devastating fire at a local apartment complex has left one woman and her two daughters without a home. Theresa Stott is suing the landlord and property managers for years-long safety failures and retaliation.
The fire occurred just hours before Easter in April 2025, damaging eight units and causing significant damage to the building. However, according to Stott, she did not hear any smoke alarms sounding despite her claims that smoke was pouring out of the ceiling vent when she first entered her apartment.
Stott disputes the official account of events, stating that she called 911 immediately after hearing what sounded like running water in her bathroom, only to find smoke coming from the ceiling. She says that smoke alarms were not working and provides video evidence to support her claims.
The lawsuit alleges a years-long pattern of neglect by management, including ignored maintenance requests, unsafe electrical conditions, heat outages, and failure to protect residents from a neighbor who threatened them, leading Stott to obtain a personal protection order.
Stott's daughters, who were with her at the time of the fire, are also victims of the alleged neglect. The lawsuit seeks damages for lost housing, destroyed property, emotional harm, financial losses tied to displacement and unemployment.
Records obtained by Metro Times show that the city had numerous issues with the building since 2016, including structural issues with the roof and ceiling, incomplete repairs, and expired permits. Inspectors reported "ongoing property neglect" and repeated issues with neglected vehicles.
The defendants, including owners and management group, have not returned messages for comment. Farmington Hills Fire Marshal Jason Baloga insists that smoke alarms were working during the fire, but Stott disputes this claim.
Stott's case has sparked concerns about safety in local apartment complexes. Baloga says that firefighters spent a lot of time salvaging personal belongings from the affected units and urges residents to test their smoke alarms monthly and ensure they are working properly.
The city is offering assistance to install smoke alarms for residents who call 248-871-2800 or email [email protected].
Stott's story raises questions about accountability in the rental market. As she navigates this difficult time, Stott remains committed to her case and hopes that justice will be served.
In related news, Stott has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help herself and her daughters.
A devastating fire at a local apartment complex has left one woman and her two daughters without a home. Theresa Stott is suing the landlord and property managers for years-long safety failures and retaliation.
The fire occurred just hours before Easter in April 2025, damaging eight units and causing significant damage to the building. However, according to Stott, she did not hear any smoke alarms sounding despite her claims that smoke was pouring out of the ceiling vent when she first entered her apartment.
Stott disputes the official account of events, stating that she called 911 immediately after hearing what sounded like running water in her bathroom, only to find smoke coming from the ceiling. She says that smoke alarms were not working and provides video evidence to support her claims.
The lawsuit alleges a years-long pattern of neglect by management, including ignored maintenance requests, unsafe electrical conditions, heat outages, and failure to protect residents from a neighbor who threatened them, leading Stott to obtain a personal protection order.
Stott's daughters, who were with her at the time of the fire, are also victims of the alleged neglect. The lawsuit seeks damages for lost housing, destroyed property, emotional harm, financial losses tied to displacement and unemployment.
Records obtained by Metro Times show that the city had numerous issues with the building since 2016, including structural issues with the roof and ceiling, incomplete repairs, and expired permits. Inspectors reported "ongoing property neglect" and repeated issues with neglected vehicles.
The defendants, including owners and management group, have not returned messages for comment. Farmington Hills Fire Marshal Jason Baloga insists that smoke alarms were working during the fire, but Stott disputes this claim.
Stott's case has sparked concerns about safety in local apartment complexes. Baloga says that firefighters spent a lot of time salvaging personal belongings from the affected units and urges residents to test their smoke alarms monthly and ensure they are working properly.
The city is offering assistance to install smoke alarms for residents who call 248-871-2800 or email [email protected].
Stott's story raises questions about accountability in the rental market. As she navigates this difficult time, Stott remains committed to her case and hopes that justice will be served.
In related news, Stott has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help herself and her daughters.
I mean, that's just so crazy! The fact that the woman was allegedly living in a fire hazard for years and nobody did anything about it is shocking. And now she's suing for damages... like, what even is the point of having laws if people can just ignore them? 
just saw this crazy story about a woman who's suing her landlord over a fire that left her homeless 
and now she's gotta deal with emotional trauma and financial losses too? 
what really gets me is that the landlord & management group aren't even commenting on it, like they're just ghosting her. Stott's case does raise some important questions about accountability in the rental market though - how can we trust landlords to keep us safe when they're more interested in lining their own pockets? 
I was talking to my friend Emily from school who lives in Farmington Hills and she told me about the fire and how it left this woman Theresa Stott homeless with her 2 kids 
. It's so unfair that Stott has to sue the landlords now because they're not taking responsibility for their actions 
. I'm literally crying thinking about her daughters having to go through this too 
. We need more people like Stott who are fighting for justice and accountability 
. Let's hope she wins her case and gets the help she needs 
.
. It's just not right that they're going through this because of the landlord's negligence. The fact that they had to file for a protection order is just heartbreaking 
.
... we should all be making sure our homes are safe, especially with the risk of fires being so high. And Stott's video evidence makes her case a lot stronger, I'm definitely rooting for her 
.
... it's like they're trying to sweep this under the rug? I hope they step up and take responsibility for their actions soon 
.
. She's got video evidence that says otherwise, so it's clear something was seriously wrong with the building.
. It's just not fair. We need more accountability in the rental market, especially when it comes to safety and maintenance.
It's like, we all want to live in safe homes, right? 
I mean, sure, there are gonna be issues with old buildings and all that, but come on! Can't we find ways to fix 'em instead of ignoring them? 
. and now the lady's suing for years of neglect and retaliation... she should sue them too, maybe some serious accountability is needed here 
. farmington hills needs to do better than this 
.
It's crazy that there were so many issues with the building for years and no one did anything about it. The fact that Theresa Stott had to call 911 thinking it was her apartment on fire is just devastating. And now she's having to go through this whole lawsuit process while trying to figure out where she's going to live next... 
... I mean, have you seen the state of some apartment complexes lately? It's like they're neglecting their own responsibilities 
.
. And to all the residents out there, make sure you're paying attention to your surroundings and reporting any safety concerns to your landlord ASAP 
. We need more people like Theresa Stott who aren't afraid to speak up for what's right 
Stott's case might raise some questions about accountability in the rental market, but it's also a reminder that we need better safety standards and more responsible landlords. 
We need to have a real conversation about accountability in the rental market, 'cause at the end of the day, it's not just about numbers or profits... it's about people's lives 
.
.
And what's with the city not doing anything until now? This whole thing smells like a conspiracy to me...