One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Ricki Lake's Rental House Fire Sparks Lawsuit By Owner
A fire in September 2010 destroyed the home actress Ricki Lake was renting in Malibu, and now the owner of the house is suing Lake, reports ABC7.
The fire allegedly began when Lake spilled some oil she was using to refill her space heater--something that Lake reportedly admitted to personnel on scene.
In preparing the lawsuit, [homeowner Hovsep] Kousayan reportedly spoke with emergency responders who claim that on the scene, Lake essentially admitted to causing the blaze. And in the panicked 911 call she placed when her couch first went up in flames, Lake is heard telling her children, "Mommy made a mistake."
The fire was ruled as an accident. Kousayan is suing for damages.
Of course, the question remains: Why was Lake using a space heater in a Malibu home--didn't that ramshackle cabin have heat?
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
