Sayville business owner files multimillion-dollar lawsuit claiming negligence started October fire
The owner of the Paper Doll Vintage Boutique filed a lawsuit seeking $4.5 million in damages, claiming the destruction of her life's work could have been prevented.
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A Sayville business owner, who lost her store because of a fire, filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit Thursday against her landlord, a neighboring tenant, and others.
A fire on Oct. 25 tore through businesses and filled Main Street with smoke. Witnesses say it started at the former location of Cafe Joelle where construction had been going on.
Dominique Maciejka narrowly escaped the fire as it destroyed her business, the Paper Doll Vintage Boutique.
"When I looked back, there was black smoke that was already filling the room and I was panicked that I was in danger," she says.
Almost two weeks later, she filed a lawsuit seeking $4.5 million in damages, claiming the destruction of her life's work could have been prevented.
Her attorney, Vess Mitev, says they argue in the lawsuit that the fire started as a result of negligent, unlicensed and unpermitted work they say was done for months at the former Cafe Joelle located next door.
"The landlords, the property manager, the tenants that leased that commercial space [...] they were the people, according to our investigation, that hired these companies that lacked these permits that led them on their premises, and they knew about it because of the amount of time that the work was going on,” he said.
Maciejka shared a Freedom Of Information Law request from the Town Of Islip for any and all permits for construction, building and work done at the former Cafe Joelle.
She got back a building permit application for a change of tenant signed by the landlord and notarized three days before the fire, but missing from the request were any permits for interior alterations or repairs.
"You have the right to remodel, you have the right to rebuild, you have the right to renovate, but you have to do it in accordance with the law,” said Mitev.
News 12 tried asking a Cafe Joelle owner on Thursday about the lawsuit at an event they held at their new location.
When asked about the lawsuit, the owner responded with, "We're good, thanks."
Maciejka just hopes to rebuild.
"I was devastated to see my life's work crumble in front of me,” she said. "It was my dream come true."
The landlord tells News 12 he is withholding comment until he gets a copy of the lawsuit and can review the claims.
News 12 is also waiting for a comment from the construction company named in the lawsuit.
Maciejka says officials have not told her an official cause of the fire.
