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Dangerous Downtown Condo Collapse Results in Loss Of Life and Lawsuits

By Eddie Farah

The downtown Berkman Plaza condominium project was abruptly halted in December 2007 when a parking garage collapsed burying one worker under five feet of debris and concrete. Now the condo owner is suing six subcontractors for at least $36 million in damages.

The six are accused of violating Florida’s building codes that led to the six-story garage collapse that killed 26-year-old Willie Edwards, a single father of two. 23 other workers were injured.

In the lawsuits, Berkman’s lawyers say the delay in construction has cost the company at least $36 million.

The Florida Times-Union reports the subcontractors are: Named in the lawsuit are: Southern Pan Services Co. of Davie, Infinity Resourcing of Palm Coast, P.T.E. Strand Co. of Miami, Universal Engineering Sciences of Orlando, A.A. Pittman and Sons Concrete Co. of Jacksonville and Patent Construction Systems of Paramus, N.J.

Interestingly another subcontractor, Choate Construction Co. was not sued because its contract states that any claims are to be handled through binding arbitration and mediation. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also fined several contractors $193,000 for flaws in construction and design.

OSHA cited nine violations, although added that none were serious enough to have caused the collapse.

Of the 23 injured workers, the OSHA citation indicates the employer knew or should have known of a danger present on the work site. An experienced attorney can help you determine whether they hid that knowledge and whether these violations could have contributed to the collapse.

Clearly in this case, Berkman Plaza and / or its subcontractors failed to take reasonable precautions to protect the employees. We wish only the best to the two young children of Willie Edwards. #

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on January 23, 2009 (boomark / email).