Rachel Gezerseh and Colin Cavanaugh secured a $6,000,000 settlement for the family of Latiesha Spencer-Tarver, who tragically lost her life in a preventable apartment fire in Reno, Nevada. A fire broke out in the family’s apartment, where smoke alarms, required by law, failed to sound because they were expired and non-functional. That failure robbed Latiesha of the critical moments she needed to escape the blaze. PSR’s investigation revealed a decade of systemic neglect by the property owner, marked by a complete failure to replace expired smoke detectors, even in the face of clear safety standards and the owner’s own admissions aboutthe fire protection and life safety practices required by law.
Throughout the case, PSR aggressively developed liability theories, working closely with fire safety and property management experts whose unrebutted opinions confirmed the owner’s failure to maintain critical fire protection systems. Through a targeted discovery plan and strategic depositions, PSR secured key admissions from ownership and staff that exposed years of negligent practices and disregard for tenant safety.
On the eve of trial, PSR served an NRCP 68 Offer of Judgment for $6,000,000, supported by overwhelming liability evidence, damaging admissions, and the devastating losses suffered by Latiesha’s husband and four children. The offer was accepted, delivering justice to a family whose tragedy was entirely preventable and holding the property owner accountable for years of gross negligence.