The Lamplighter Inn captured in May. | Photo by Sage Alexander.


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Two more lawsuits have been filed against the owners of a Eureka motel where two women died five days apart in the same room.

The incidents, on February 21 and 26, had strikingly similar circumstances. Both times, a person was found dead in the room and an additional surviving guest was taken to the hospital. High levels of carbon monoxide were detected in the room by authorities on the 26th.

These lawsuits, filed concurrently by the same law firm, seek damages for the two people who were injured from significant levels of carbon monoxide, according to court documents.

Both lawsuits accused the owners of negligence for alleged violation of multiple health and safety statutes, including keeping a functional carbon monoxide detector in the room.

According to one lawsuit, one man “sustained serious injuries after being exposed to lethal and preventable levels of carbon monoxide,” in his hotel room on February 21.

In the second lawsuit, another guest is similarly described as sustaining serious injuries.

The lawsuits state the plaintiffs, Reuben Perez and Eugene Kick, continue to suffer from injuries due to being exposed to the gas.

The owners of the hotel, Harjinder and Surinder Heer, are accused of acting “with malice, oppression, and conscious disregard for the rights and safety of others,” noting the two incidents took place within five days of eachother.

Both lawsuits were filed in the Humboldt County Superior Court by Eureka’s Zwerdling Law Firm on May 28. They seek damages and a jury trial.

An attorney representing the Heers did not return an emailed request for comment before publishing time.

But in a recent filing for a related case, they denied wrongdoing. 

These lawsuits follow a separate wrongful death lawsuit for a woman who died with three times the lethal level of carbon monoxide in her system, her father’s attorney previously told the Outpost. The other victim’s cause of death has not been released by authorities.

Since an initial lawsuit was filed, the owners have responded in court, denying the allegations and shifting the blame back to the woman. In an answer to the complaint, attorneys argue preexisting conditions of the woman, or intoxication, partially or fully caused her death. 

The response also denies all the allegations.

Case management conferences are scheduled for September 28 and November 23.

Fire personnel displayed signs of mild carbon monoxide exposure on February 26 after responding to the motel, according to the Eureka Police Department. Officials found elevated levels of the odorless gas and no carbon monoxide detectors in the room the victims were found in.

The hotel has been shuttered since.

Murder hearings delayed

This week, proceedings for three local murder cases were delayed. 

The preliminary hearing for a man accused of murdering and robbing a Fort Bragg man almost a year ago, alongside his co-defendant who is accused of robbery, was delayed due to a key witness being unable to testify today.

According to prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees, the witness was present during the shooting and saw the events leading up to and following it.

“She is a necessary witness,” he told the judge in court today. He noted the witness has additional information for possible added charges.

Deunn Willis was charged with murder and felony robbery for the July 8 shooting of Joshua Lee McCollister. Co-defendant Danielle Durand was charged with robbery and remains out on bail.

Both suspects have pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

The hearing, which aims to determine if enough probable cause exists for the defendants to continue to be held to answer on the charges, has been delayed numerous times. Willis’ attorney, Gregory Kreis, opposed the continuance, arguing the witness was not necessary.

“We’ve put this over, and over, and over,” he said, noting his client has remained in custody. In previous hearings Kreis has similarly pressed for the matter to be heard. Willis has been incarcerated since July 11, 2025.

After noting the department couldn’t fit the hearing (estimated to take a full day), Judge Steven Steward found good cause to move it forward, while acknowledging the numerous delays.

The hearing was rescheduled to July 29th.

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Court proceedings for two suspects accused of murdering a 17-year-old in Hoopa were similarly punted forward today.

Defense attorneys are looking for evidence from the District Attorney’s office to be handed over before scheduling a preliminary hearing. 

In particular, they seek any proof the teenaged defendants were part of a criminal street gang. One defense attorney said she received some evidence yesterday from the office, while another has yet to see any.

The next hearing was set for July 8. Judge Steward said he’d hear a previously filed motion to compel evidence, if discovery was still outstanding.

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And Travis Watson, accused of murder in Hoopa, similarly saw his case pushed forward due to a key witnesses unavailability.

Watson has sought a speedy trial. His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Owen Tipps, said his client wishes to proceed despite lacking full discovery. He said he’s almost certain the missing portion will be exculpatory.

The stabbing was reported May 2. Watson reported the stabbing to police, telling dispatch he had been physically attacked by his uncle, according to the Sheriff’s office. He was arrested that morning. He’s pleaded not guilty and remains in custody with a $1,000,000 bail.

This preliminary hearing was rescheduled for July 2.