Well reading that report, the architectural firm f'd up. They missed specifying sloping the concrete for the sub-base to drain. That would be the one to after. The engineers second because they have to approve the architect's work. The builder.... ahhhh, not so much, they go off the drawings, but that's not to say they won't be in court also. A good law firm might also go after the CAD writer too if they are still in business. 1980 was about the time computer aided design in construction started to gain legs. I'd imagine the architects were using some sort of CAD for a project of this size. If there is an avenue here going back on these entities, then the condo association messed up in 2018, because that would have been the time to sue for the repairs. The report flat out says they missed sloping the sub-base as per the code at the time. One things for sure, there's gonna be lots of expert witnesses in these fields called to testify. Ca-ching for them.
All the entities involved in the construction have been dissolved over 30 years ago and all the principals are deceased. They will have to look elsewhere for financial accountability.
I believe Ocho also mentioned: Inspections and Subsequent constructions. The city of Miami/Surfside hasn't been dissolved, right? So they could potentially be partially negligent, right? And did you check whether all the subsequent contractors, that have done work on, or near the building, have been dissolved?
Just following the news reports on the original developers and their firms. Any subsequent firm or people involved in maintenance, contractors involved in subsequent construction, government entities, and sub-contractors (if they still exist) are likely at risk to be held accountable financially. But you're not going to get a dime from the original developers or the entities.... that ship is long gone.
the original builders would still be off the hook anyway because the building was built and approved and inspected thoroughly.... way too many interceding variables to hold the builder liable after 40 years. A builder can depose all the susbsequent repairs, maintenance records and issues outstanding and show that his job was done right and those after them fucked it up. So we can forget the builder even if they were not dissolved. There is no way there is anyone intelligent on TV able to tell you why th is happened so ignore the people lookingto fill air time. They need another week of body recovery and then engineering studies of the concrete, beams, foundation, soil and surrounding events. Gonna take maybe a year or so.
Yeah.. . I agree that it will take some time to figure out. I will mention that I saw a lengthy social media post from a professional civil engineer who lives in Florida who stepped through the video and pictures with some good commentary about the sequence of events and likely causes based on the photo evidence. I am trying to find this particular post again -- so I can provide it as an informational reference in this thread.
Interesting news.... the insurance carrier for the Surfside condo tower wants to make the maximum payment to the families of all the victims as soon as possible. Insurer plans to make up-front payment for damages in Surfside condo collapse https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article252422868.html Just hours after the collapse of a Surfside condo tower last Thursday, a Miami attorney filed a class-action lawsuit seeking millions of dollars in damages from the building’s condo association after accusing the board of failing to protect the lives and property of residents. On Monday, the insurance carrier for the Champlain Towers South condo association told the the judge handling the case that it is going to make an up-front payment to resolve damage claims in the case. According to the condo board’s policy with James River Insurance Company, the up-front payment could be at least $1 million and as much as $2 million. “As we process the immeasurable suffering from this tragedy, we believe this is a time to work together,” the Miami law firm, Clyde & Co., representing the condo board’s insurer, wrote to Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman on Monday. “We want to make it known that James River Insurance Company has made the decision to voluntarily tender its entire limit from the enclosed policy towards attempting to resolve all the claims in this matter.” The Miami attorney for a class of Champlain Towers South condo members said he was grateful that the insurance company stepped up to settle the class action alleging negligence by the condo association. “We have received some favorable news regarding the first such carrier that by no means solves this [case] but is a necessary first step,” plaintiffs’ attorney Brad Sohn said. “We intend to work with the court to get these initial [payments] disbursed as quickly as possible with 100% of this early amount going to victims.” The class-action case, the first suit filed over the condo building’s collapse, is represented by lead plaintiff Manuel Drezner. He owns a condo at the 12-story, 136-unit Champlain Towers South condominium but was in South America when it collapsed Thursday. It is not clear at this early stage how many condo owners and residents — both survivors and deceased victims of the collapse — have joined the class, which Sohn described as a fluid number. He said the logistics on how the money would be distributed must be still be worked out, but he said this initial insurance payment would go entirely to the class members with no legal fees taken out. About half of the building at 8777 Collins Ave. was destroyed, while the other half remains standing next to a mountain of rubble facing the ocean. According to officials, at least 11 people died in the collapse but about 150 are unaccounted for. Separately, a second lawsuit was filed Monday by Steve Rosenthal against the Champlain Towers South condo association, records show. He survived the condo tower’s collapse.
Condo owners in Surfside building were facing assessments for $15 million worth of repairs https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/28/us/surfside-condo-owners-assessments-invs/index.html