The recent building collapse in Surfside, Florida, is as heart-wrenching as it is frustrating. The unfortunate reality is that when accidents like these happen, they are frequently preventable–this is looking to be the case here.
Florida Bar Board Certified Condominium, Construction, and Real Estate Law Attorney Barry Ansbacher of Ansbacher Law is currently assisting News4Jax I-TEAM in their investigation into the tragedy.
According to recently revealed documents dating back to 2018, an engineering consulting firm called Morabito Consultants told the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association that their building was in dire need of repair. The findings of their inspection included “abundant cracking and spalling of concrete columns, beams and walls,” “failed waterproofing,” and other very unsafe conditions that should have raised the immediate concern of any building owner.
Morabito Consultants said in their statement that they were preparing the building for its 40-year inspection back in 2018 when they noticed several defects and dangers. On October 8, 2018, they gave the report to the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association. Now that it’s clear that the condominium association knew of these dangerous conditions roughly three years ago and failed to ensure the unsafe buildings were fixed in a timely manner, it’s hard to deny what could be the true cause of the accident.
Attorney Barry Ansbacher believes that board members of the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association possibly bear responsibility for the tragedy. “If a board member acts with what’s considered recklessness, meaning there’s a high probability that someone can be hurt or endangered on their property, in those instances they could be personally responsible as well as the condominium association itself.”
We understand that every Floridian is deeply troubled by this recent tragedy, but we believe that we will get through it together. Ansbacher Law sends our thoughts and prayers to all those who have been either directly or indirectly impacted by the collapse.
To read the full news story regarding News4Jax I-TEAM’s investigation into the Surfside condo collapse, please click here.
If you have any additional questions regarding personal injury lawsuits and/or condominium construction law, please do not hesitate to contact our knowledgeable legal team today.
