European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 8, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday March 8, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 9 this scene left Phot from the koryo restaurant in Frankfurt Germany is agr in reminder of a lire that one year ago killed ii people including five members of in american family. Among the six survivors arc above 9-year-old Kesha Atkins and her 5-year-old brother Brandon. Tragedy lingers year after restaurant fire by Gary Pomeroy staff writer Frankfurt Germany its been a year since the koryo restaurant in Frankfurt exploded in flames killing 11 people including an american Soldier and four members of his family. Six others were injured in the March 7 lire the worst in Frankfurt a postwar history. Customers and restaurant employees were trapped in the smoke and confusion of a second floor dining room. For 5-year-old Brandon Atkins and his 9-year-old sister Kesha the ensuing months were filled with painful Burn treatments and counselling sessions with psychologists. Their father army sgt. Errol Atkins their Mother Marva and 13-year-old sister Tanya and 1-year-old brother Errol jr., were asphyxiated by smoke from the Blaze. Marva smother Margaret Ramsey also died at the restaurant where the family had gathered for a Farewell dinner for Ramsey who had been visiting. Kesha was burned in the Blaze then suffered a fractured Skull and a broken leg when she was apparently thrown to safety from a window of the chinese korean restaurant. Despite receiving skin grafts on her hands and face Over the past year she must still Wear a pressure mask and gloves to help the tender skin heal Brandon suffered less severe Burns on his face and hands when he was picked up and carried out of the window by another survivor who jumped to safety. A a Kesha is in psychotherapy and physical therapy a said Gloria Saldano sgt. Atkins sister and now the children a guardian in Brooklyn , a she goes once a week or More. Brandon was in psychotherapy but he a not going now a she said. A a doctors think he s doing pretty  the children a nightmares about the tragedy have slowly faded she said although their Days Are up and Down. Quot even though the children look like Blaze which quickly filled the two flights of stairs and dining room with thick smoke. The emergency exit was blocked with a coat rack and locked investigators said. The windows of the restaurant were also sealed shut. A it was like a Chimney with no Hue a said a lawyer involved in the Case. The Frankfurt Public prosecutor is still investigating the fire. The prosecutor re we Are still very blessed in that Kesha and Brandon Are still alive and with god s help and Good care from the doctors they Are slowly coming along Gloria Saldano the children s guardian they Are doing Well they go through mental stress every Day a she said. A a lot of times Kesha becomes very depressed and very difficult to Deal with. But then site has her Good Days too. A we Are still very blessed in that Kesha and Brandon Are still alive and with gods help and Good care from the doctors they Are slowly coming along.�?�. German Legal officials have made less Progress Over the past year in resolving the question of liability and compensation for the victims of the fire. Investigators said they believe that a lighted cigarette thrown into a trash Basket in a basement break room caused the gently began evaluating a study by an Independent construction Engineer who investigated the fire on behalf of a German Man who remains in a coma As a result of the Blaze. The study concluded that several building codes were violated by the restaurants owners and that the City failed to enforce its own building codes. Following its own investigation the City concluded that the a tragic consequences of the fire cannot be attributed to the malfeasance of City  based on that investigation the City has refused to make any financial compensation to the victims. The owners of the restaurant who Are believed to have left the country had 1 million German Marks about $6 6,000 in liability insurance coverage. The family of the comatose Man citing a tremendous mistakes by the City in enforcing its building and fire codes has filed suit in a German court seeking to make the City liable and pave the Way Lor additional claims by the victims or their survivors. German Law does not allow for damages in the Case of immediate death but survivors can file claims against insurance companies for economic damage such As the loss of support from the head of household. In the Case of the comatose Man medical Bills alone average 20,000 German Marks about $13,300 a month according to the family a lawyer. A the key fact is the restaurant insurance policy. Will not begin to compensate the victims said Robert j. Fiore a Frankfurt based american attorney representing the surviving Atkins children. A one year after the fire there is still no definite statement of Why these people died a Fiore said. A the family of the comatose Man has asked a German court for Public funds to cover court costs and is optimistic that the request will be approved. The Case can then go to trial. The Case will be Given top priority Hubert Harth a spokesman for the Public prosecutor in Frankfurt said. A you can be assured that another year wont pass before the prosecutor takes action Harth said. Contributing to bit report staff writer Mary Nath in Darmstadt Germany