A brave teenager who survived the horrific Grenfell Tower fire has taken the unprecedented step of launching a landmark legal case against the council she holds responsible for the tragedy.
The 16-year-old, whose identity remains protected, has filed a claim at the High Court against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This bold move marks one of the first individual lawsuits from a young survivor directly targeting the local authority.
The case centres on allegations of catastrophic failures in the council's duties as a social housing landlord. It claims the authority breached building and fire safety regulations, leading to the installation of highly flammable cladding that turned the tower into a death trap.
A Life Forever Changed
Having escaped the inferno that claimed 72 lives in June 2017, the young claimant continues to suffer from severe psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her case argues that the council's negligence directly caused her enduring mental injuries.
Leigh Day, the law firm representing her, stated: "Our client's life was irrevocably altered that night. This legal action seeks accountability for the profound failures that led to one of the UK's worst modern disasters."
A Test Case for Justice
This lawsuit is being closely watched as it could set a critical legal precedent. It moves beyond the ongoing public inquiry to establish direct, legal responsibility for the chain of failures that culminated in the blaze.
The claim specifically accuses the council of:
- Breaching its statutory duties under the Building Act 1984
- Failing to comply with fire safety regulations
- Installing dangerous external cladding known to be a fire risk
- Failing to conduct necessary risk assessments
This courageous stand by a young survivor represents a pivotal fight for justice, not just for herself, but for all those affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster.
