Wildfire starter to sue firefighters

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LOVELAND, Colo., March 16 (UPI) -- A lawyer for a man who admitted starting a Colorado wildfire says he does not expect his client's lawsuit against fire agencies to "go anywhere."

Bradley Ross-Shannon, the lawyer, said he filed a notice of intent to sue for Joel Ledermann to give him the right to examine the records of the agencies involved in the Loveland fire, a September blaze that consumed 750 acres and gutted two houses, KMGH-TV in Denver reported.

Ledermann acknowledged starting the fire by burning trash in his yard and pleaded guilty to third-degree arson, escaping a prison term.

"We really don't expect it to go anywhere," Ross-Shannon said. "But we want to make sure that we preserve the right to look into and analyze the response to make sure it was appropriate."

Ledermann has already been sued by one couple who lost their home, Ross-Shannon said. He expects more lawsuits as insurers try to recover the damages they paid out for the fire.