The family of a two‑year‑old girl who tragically died after falling from a 19th‑floor apartment window in North York has initiated a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the owners and property managers of the building. They claim that years of ignored warnings, unsafe glass, and failures to maintain or improve windows directly contributed to the child’s death.
The Statement of Claim, submitted to the Ontario Superior Court on Aug. 12, details accusations against 373041 Ontario Limited, GH Capital Corporation, along with two property managers, Julita‑Luise Pieckenhagen and Megan Anderson. The family is seeking over $18.5 million in damages.
This lawsuit arises from the tragic incident on May 10, when little Khanak Rakshit fell through a bedroom window in her family’s unit at 50 Graydon Hall Drive.
Her parents, Deepali Kashyap and Rakshit Chauhan, shared with City News that Khanak had been playing in her bedroom when she “gently touched” the window – and suddenly the glass shattered. The toddler fell nineteen stories to the ground below.
“Khanak gently touched a window in the bedroom and the glass suddenly and without warning broke, causing her to fall through the window opening and plummet nineteen stories to her death,” states the claim.
Parents Witnessed Their Daughter’s Fall
Both parents were present in the room when the glass broke. The claim indicates they saw their daughter fall but couldn’t reach her in time. They allege that they have suffered “serious and permanent psychological injuries,” including depression, anxiety, PTSD, nightmares, and ongoing emotional trauma.
The lawsuit claims that the building’s owners and managers permitted unsafe glass to remain in units for years while ignoring warnings from engineers, safety experts, and residents. They also failed to install safety locks or upgrade windows with safer materials while obstructing or discouraging an independent investigation following their child’s death among other allegations.
The claim further asserts that defendants were aware of prior incidents involving dangerous windows at this building yet took no corrective measures.
The family is pursuing $3 million for general damages related to mental distress as well as another $3 million in special damages; they are also seeking $2.5 million under the Family Law Act and $5 million in punitive damages.
Khanak’s passing marks a second tragic fall involving a child in Toronto within just two weeks. On April 27, a six-year-old girl lost her life after falling from a 28th-floor apartment in Rexdale. This case raised similar concerns about window safety standards in older high-rise buildings.
The allegations included in this Statement of Claim haven’t been proven yet in court.
Emergency crews were called to an apartment building on Graydon Hall Drive near Don Mills Road and Highway 401 just before 12:30 p. m. on May 10. Photo: City News. Keep it Factual
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