A tragic incident at a San Francisco apartment complex has led to a lawsuit alleging negligence and wrongful death. On March 13, 2025, Sheida Tavakoli-Malek, Mitra Kleinbart, and Fariba Alazzeh filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco against Maximus Real Estate Partners LTD and Parkmerced. The plaintiffs claim that the defendants' failure to address known maintenance issues resulted in the drowning death of their mother, Zahra Sooroori Tavakoli-Malek.
According to the complaint, Zahra Sooroori Tavakoli-Malek was a long-time resident of Parkmerced Apartments in San Francisco. Her daughters allege that they had repeatedly informed the management about a malfunctioning drain in her shower that caused water to accumulate rather than drain properly. Despite these complaints, no action was taken by Maximus Real Estate Partners or Parkmerced to rectify the issue. On April 4, 2023, Zahra tragically drowned when she became submerged in her bathtub due to this unresolved problem.
The plaintiffs argue that the defendants were aware of the substantial risk posed by the faulty drain, especially given that many residents like Zahra were elderly with limited mobility. They contend that fixing such an issue would have been inexpensive compared to the potential harm it could cause. The lawsuit accuses Maximus Real Estate Partners and Parkmerced of premises liability and negligence for failing to maintain safe living conditions.
In their pursuit of justice, Sheida Tavakoli-Malek, Mitra Kleinbart, and Fariba Alazzeh are seeking damages exceeding $50,000. They are asking for general and special damages as well as compensation for funeral expenses and loss of companionship. The plaintiffs also demand a jury trial to hold those responsible accountable for their mother's untimely death.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Seth I. Rosenberg and Jessica C. Grau from Emergent LLP. The case is being presided over by judges at the Superior Court of California under Case ID CGC-25-623276.