A Massachusetts woman has initiated a lawsuit against Vrbo and Expedia following a tragic fire at a vacation rental in the Dominican Republic that resulted in the deaths of four family members, including her 5-year-old son. Josmeli Rojas, of Lawrence, claims that the companies were aware that the property lacked smoke detectors yet permitted it to be booked.
On June 13, Rojas was vacationing in Barahona with 11 family members and a close friend for her youngest son’s christening. The fire broke out on their first night at the rental. The victims included Rojas’ 69-year-old mother, Jhoselin Del Carmen Sosa Amaro; her 5-year-old son, Royce David Cedano Rojas; her 42-year-old cousin, Lucybeldriz Rodriguez Sosa; and her 74-year-old aunt, Pancracia Mercedes Sosa Amaro.
Rojas continues to cope with the aftermath of the tragedy and described her experience of trauma, including nightmares and flashbacks. “I’ve been trying to go back to my normal life. This is not easy. I can’t. It’s been hard for me,” Rojas expressed in an interview.
The lawsuit also indicates that several survivors suffered burns and other injuries during the incident. Albert Farah, one of the family’s attorneys, noted that an official report attributed the fire to an electrical malfunction. Farah criticized Vrbo for not adhering to its own “Safety Essentials Requirements,” which mandate the presence of smoke alarms in rental properties.
According to Farah, investigations by the legal team revealed that in certain locations, over half of Vrbo accommodations lacked smoke detectors. “They know smoke detectors save lives,” he stated. “They require smoke detectors in their host’s accommodations, and they don’t follow through.”
The Rojas family is seeking damages for medical and psychological treatment, physical and emotional injuries, impacts on parent-child relationships, as well as legal fees and other related expenses. Farah highlighted the profound consequences of the tragedy, mentioning that it affects not just the four who died but also eight survivors.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Vrbo said, “We have received plaintiffs’ complaint. This is a tragic accident, and our thoughts are with the family.”
