Malibu homeowner sues Tripadvisor, renter for fire that destroyed house, killed student
- Share via
- The owner of a Malibu mansion that burned Jan. 17, 2021, filed a lawsuit looking for at least $100 million in damages four years to the day after the blaze.
- She is suing her home’s renter, Tripadvisor, Flipkey and Holiday Lettings Ltd. for breach of contract, negligence and unfair business practices.
A Malibu homeowner is suing travel website Tripadvisor and two subsidiaries along with a Venice woman, alleging they were responsible for burning down her property in 2021, ultimately resulting in the death of a San Diego-area college student.
Erin Hughes, owner of a Rambla Pacifico Street mansion that burned Jan. 17, 2021, filed the lawsuit four years to the day after the blaze. She is suing her home’s renter, Holly Seeler; Tripadvisor; Flipkey and Holiday Lettings Ltd. for breach of contract, negligence and unfair business practices.
Hughes is asking for at least $100 million in damages and interest.
Calls for comments to representatives for Seeler and Tripadvisor were not returned.
Hughes’ attorney Alex Gruzman said in an email that his client contends that there are “systematic violations of California statutory safety and property rental regulations by the online short-term vacation rental platforms including TripAdvisor, Holiday Lettings Limited and Flip Key.”
Although the beaches remain open, health advisories prohibit or urge residents to avoid swimming, surfing or playing in the ocean water because of debris runoff from fire zones.
Seeler rented Hughes’ property from Jan. 15-17, 2021, through Tripadvisor, Flipkey and Holiday Lettings. The rental agreement authorized only two people to stay at the home and mandated that any extra person would be charged $100.
On Jan. 16, 2021, Seeler hosted a “Celebration of Life” at the Malibu home as a tribute to her son, Jack Fisher, 22, who died after being hit by a big rig near Cabazon on Dec. 16, 2020, the lawsuit alleges.
More than 25 people attended that memorial with 20 undisclosed guests spending the night, thus violating the agreement, the lawsuit says.
Hughes alleges that Tripadvisor and its affiliates were aware that extra guests were staying and refused to cancel the booking.
The lawsuit also alleges that there were also loud noises late into the evening, smoking inside the property and the use of flammable devices, all which violated the rental agreement.
Times reporter James Rainey ventured back to see if his childhood home in Malibu was still standing, while he reflected on ‘Old World Malibu.’
Fireworks and sky lanterns were used, with the latter causing the fire around 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 17 that burned down the home, the lawsuit alleges.
San Diego Mesa student Grant Schneider, 22, died in the blaze, according to the county medical examiner.
Schneider’s father, Brad, filed his own lawsuit against Hughes, Tripadvisor and its subsidiaries for negligence, alleging that the property lacked safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and detectors.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
