More than 1,000 families, survivors and firefighters of the Grenfell tower fire have launched a multi-million pound court battle against Kensington and Chelsea council.
A hearing was held at the High Court in London on Wednesday to manage roughly 1,130 claims brought against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and its tenant management organisation (TMO).
The claims have been brought by dozens of bereaved, families, survivors and emergency responders of the Grenfell tower inferno on June 14, 2017.
Lawyers representing dozens of people who survived the Grenfell Tower fire have called on the RBKC to 'admit your liability' for the disaster.
A hearing was held at London's High Court on Wednesday to manage roughly 1,130 claims brought against Kensington and Chelsea council. Pictured: The Grenfell tower fire in London
Seventy-two people died as a result of the blaze at the west London block, after an electrical fault with a fridge-freezer sparked a catastrophic fire.
RBKC and TMO face nearly 1,000 High Court claims brought on behalf of the bereaved and survivors of the fire or their relatives.
And around 140 firefighters and police officers are also taking legal action against RBKC, the TMO and the London Fire Brigade or the Metropolitan Police, as well as eight companies involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.
On Wednesday, the High Court was asked to pause the claims for nine months to allow the parties time to try and settle the cases without the need for a trial.
But 88 claimants - bereaved, families and survivors of the fire - argued the claims should not be put on hold and said they will not engage in talks with RBKC and the TMO unless it admits liability on their claims for breach of duty.
Lawyer Susan Rodway QC accused RBKC and the TMO of 'seeking to avoid justice' and prolong the proceedings despite 'overwhelming evidence that condemns those landlords' having come out in the public inquiry into the fatal fire.
Seventy-two people died as a result of the blaze (pictured) at the west London block, after an electrical fault with a
