One Year Later—Corral Fire Victims Want Their Say at Suspects’ Hearings

• Letter-Writing Campaign Urges Conviction of Culprits

BY NICOLE KLIEST

After exactly one year, the consequences of the Corral Fire that destroyed 53 homes and burned 4650 acres of land are surfacing in a tangible manner. On Dec. 5, a preliminary hearing for Brian Anderson and William Coppock, two of the five men charged with causing the tragic fire, is slated to take place at Van Nuys Superior Court.
Defendant Brian Franks, originally included in the Anderson-Coppock action but who is now assisting the prosecution, will have a probation and sentencing hearing on Dec. 11, and defendants Eric Ullman and Dean Lavorante, being tried on the same charges separately, will face arraignment on that date as well.
In an effort to assure that what they consider to be justice will be served, a group of Corral Canyon residents who have been active in “Operation Recovery” are undertaking a letter-writing campaign to Judge Leslie Dunn that encourages that all five men be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“We’re working on a letter-writing campaign to the judge and mobilizing people to attend the preliminary hearing on Dec. 5,” Corral resident and Operation Recovery organizer Beverly Taki said. “The two deputy district attorneys came out to meet with us since we are considered a victims group. We need to write letters to the judge to express our feelings about the injustice here, and we need to get people to go to the Van Nuys courthouse.”
At the Dec. 5 preliminary hearing, the District Attorney’s Office will present testimony and evidence to show why the defendants should be held to answer for the crimes charged. Taki is advising Corral residents to send in letters, photographs, videos and any other information to bolster their case.
“It’s still very important to have a public presence in the courtroom,” Taki said. “The [defendants] are in the courtroom with their families, so we need to have an equal force. It will be nice to band together as a Malibu community that has suffered, primarily Corral Canyon.”
The court proceedings are but a small part of the many problems that Corral Canyon residents have been grappling with as a consequence of the devastating fire. Many who lost their homes are still daunted by the hurdles they encounter in rebuilding.
Jennifer Grossman lost her home in last year’s fire and recounts the difficulty of first-hand experience with the bureaucracy of building permits.
“I did get all of my permits but it’s been a long process,” Grossman said. “It took me close to a year. I feel that there are a couple of issues. First, it takes time, and second, there are issues that come up that are requirements to get the permits, which can be particularly hard.”
On top of the difficulty of rebuilding her home, Grossman said that time has become a major source of pressure as she has to pay rent every month, and that comes out of her building reserve. However, she is nonetheless thankful to have begun the rebuilding process last week.
“My experience has been long, painstaking and difficult,” Grossman said. “But, it’s possible to get through it when there are people who are willing to bend over backwards to help other people. You just need to step forward and communicate.”
The court appearances are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at the Van Nuys Superior Court in Department 120 located at 14400 Erwin Street Mall.