Boyle Heights cancer patient files lawsuit against Lineage Inc. after warehouse fire

Eric Lara, a cancer patient living about 1.5 miles from Lineage Inc.'s cold‑storage warehouse at 1400 S. Los Palos St. in Boyle Heights, has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. The suit alleges negligence, premises liability, public nuisance, trespass, strict liability and unlawful business practices against Lineage, solar‑installer Altus Power and other parties.

The fire broke out on June 17, sending thick smoke and a foul odor that prompted city, county and state emergency declarations and a shelter‑in‑place order for nearby residents. Over 900 complaints were logged about the stench, and emergency‑room visits in the area reportedly doubled. Lara says the fire forced him to purchase multiple air purifiers and incur higher utility costs, as well as potential medical expenses related to respiratory symptoms, while he continues daily cancer treatments.

Lineage has reported that nearly half of the estimated 85 million pounds of rotting food debris have been cleared, but cleanup continues and the odor may worsen as demolition proceeds.