Children of Man Killed in Blaze File Claims Against City

The children of a man killed in a fire at an illegally operating board house on Nov. 1 believe the City of Pasadena knew the dwelling had code violations and have filed claims against the city.

LaTiesha Renay Clark, of Los Angeles, and Cliff Juan Clark Jr., of Victorville, each filed a $25,000 claim against the city April 13, the Pasadena Star-News reported.

Their father, Cliff Juan Clark, 56, and Paul Richard Boyd, 75, died in the fire in the1300 block of El Sereno Avenue. A third man was injured.

Cliff Juan Clark Jr., in his claim, said the city should have shut down the facility before the fire occurred in the early morning of Nov. 1, the Star-News reported.

Garth Allen Robbins, 49, and a resident at the home was arrested on Nov. 2 by police who have accused him of intentionally starting the fire, the newspaper reported. The fire caused $750,000 in damage.

Sixteen other men who lived at the two-story home were displaced, said Lisa Derderian of the Pasadena Fire Department.

The El Sereno Avenue home is owned by Jeanette Broussard, an Altadena resident who also owns a home at 655 Del Monte St. in Pasadena, where a fire killed a tenant in May 2009, the Pasadena Sun reported.

Robbins is being held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility without bail for felony arson charges and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing June 5 in Pasadena court.