My reaction to Roy Riley's $52 million lawsuit -- $52.3 million, to be exact -- against the building management for not installing smoke detectors in a West Baltimore apartment where Riley's fiancee, son and the fiancee's niece died went something like this: Sorry for your loss, and everyone can understand why you're upset and suing, but why didn't you install a smoke detector yourself? And sorry if that sounds cold, but to me it's just common sense: If my landlord doesn't install a smoke detector, then I'm going to get one and hang it myself -- especially if there are little kids under my roof.

Riley's lawyer, David Ellin,said he hoped the lawsuit would prompt other landlords to be aware of their responsibility, saying, "Instead of trying to save a few bucks, they might try to save a few lives."

Hey, I'm glad there's a public-interest aspect to this $52.3 million lawsuit. (Right.)

But an adult in this situation should have taken responsibility for the smoke detector. If the landlord didn't, then the adults living in the apartment should have. It would have cost them nothing and saved everything.

Here's comment from reader Linda Miller:

I read with interest your column of 8/23, and I agree with your take on
Roy Riley's needing to take some responsibility for not obtaining a
smoke detector even if his landlord would not. Of course, every time
there is a fire and no smoke detector, I think what you do:  Huh?
Where's your common sense?  Here's the story I want to tell you:

My son and his wife and 4 children (ages 3-9) were asleep at 2:30 a.m.
when my son heard the smoke detector go off. Annoyed at being awaked, he
cursed the 'stupid' smoke detector and went downstairs to turn it off.
What a shock when he saw the kitchen was in flames.  He ran upstairs,
woke up his wife, practically threw his older girls down the steps, went
back and grabbed the twins, got everyone outside, including the dogs.
While my daughter-in-law called the Fire Department, my son got the hose from
the side of the house and proceeded his attempt to reduce the damage as
much as possible.  The fire truck was there within 4 minutes.  The fire
stayed contained to the kitchen, though there was water damage to the
basement playroom.  The most important thing is, they are all well with
a story to tell (not a funeral for the family to prepare).  They're even
getting a new kitchen that the insurance will pay for.  So there you
have it--another testament for  the $10 (or whatever) smoke detector.
Thanks for your reminder.  People NEED to see it!