Chipotle Settles Lawsuit Over DTLA High‑Rise Fire

Chipotle Mexican Grill has quietly struck a deal with a group of residents who sued after a 2022 fire ripped through a Downtown Los Angeles high-rise where the chain’s ground-floor restaurant was under renovation. The settlement, disclosed in court papers on Thursday, effectively winds down years of legal wrangling over an evacuation that left tenants displaced and at least one construction worker badly burned.

Settlement And Court Directions

According to MyNewsLA, multiple residents reached a settlement with Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and other defendants, and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elaine Lu issued instructions on how any related class action claims should be dismissed. The outlet reports that the financial terms of the agreement were not revealed in court, keeping the size of the payout under wraps for now.

How The Blaze Unfolded

The fire broke out on the morning of Jan. 24, 2022 on the ground floor of the 27-story 255 Grand Apartments and pushed smoke through the tower, authorities said. CBS Los Angeles reported that crews found a worker with severe burns, while FOX 11 Los Angeles noted that investigators say a construction worker had cut through an electric main line that distributes power through the building.

Claims Named Contractors And Owner

The lead complaint, first filed in May 2023, named KDC Construction, the contractor hired for the Chipotle renovation, along with building owner Grand Promenade and property manager GK Management, according to City News Service. Court filings describe tenants trapped in elevators and hallways choked with thick smoke, stating that more than 120 firefighters responded and roughly 60 people were helped to safety. CBS Los Angeles captured residents’ accounts from that day, including one tenant who recalled, “I thought I was going to die.”

What Comes Next

Despite the settlement, the court still has to sign off on any dismissal of class claims and make sure the required notices and procedures are followed. Courts in Judge Elaine Lu’s department have required formal notice and compliance with California class-settlement rules before dismissals become final, and a sample of the court’s tentative rulings spells out steps such as issuing class notices and filing final distribution reports. Tentative rulings in related matters show that the bench typically demands proof of notice and the necessary filings before closing cases.

City News Service reported that Chipotle did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and none of the parties have made the settlement figures public. Until the court enters the final dismissal paperwork, details about any payouts or other remedies are likely to stay private, with any specifics surfacing later in public court filings.