The first lawsuit to be filed over the collapse of the Miami condo last Thursday (June 24) has claimed that the tragedy was preventable.
People reports that the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, has resulted in the deaths of at least four people, and left another 159 unaccounted for. The incident occurred at around 1:30AM on Thursday night.
Now, a $5 million class-action lawsuit has been filed against the building's condo association.
Details of the lawsuit were first reported by ABC affiliate WPLG, and show that the Brad Sohn Law Firm filed for legal action just hours after the building collapsed.
The Brad Sohn Law Firm claims that Champlain Towers South Condominium Association, Inc. failed to "secure and safeguard" its residents. Per People, the association is also accused of failing to inform both residents and visitors about the lack of safety precautions in place.
Additionally, the Brad Sohn Law Firm has stated in the lawsuit that the association showed "negligence" by failing to action the appropriate steps necessary to prevent the collapse.
The plaintiff listed on the lawsuit is Manuel Drezner, who both lives in and owns a unit in the collapsed tower. According to the complaint, he is seeking $5 million in damages on his own behalf, and on the behalf of "all others similarly situated."
Per People, the lawsuit states:
"Defendant knew, or reasonably should have known, of the importance of safeguarding Plaintiff's and the Class's lives and property and of the foreseeable consequences that would occur if it failed to do so, including, specifically, the loss of life and use of property that Plaintiff and the Class would suffer if Defendant failed to take adequate precautions."
Citing a public statement from the association's attorney Ken Direktor, the lawsuit adds that the collapse could have been prevented through "the exercise of ordinary care, safety measures, and oversight".
Direktor said in his statement that "repair needs had been identified" in the building.
Brad Sohn has said in a statement regarding the collapse: "In the early hours of Thursday morning, an unspeakable horror rocked the close-knit community of Surfside, Florida.
"Shortly thereafter, Sohn Law was engaged by the Drezner family. As a lawyer, I can't fix what is irreparable. But what I can do is fight to immediately fully compensate these victims so that they can focus all of their energy on healing as best they can."
Sohn added: "Our investigation continues, but we strongly believe this was preventable."
"We are committed to compensating these vulnerable families, whether they have lost a loved one, lost the place they called home, or suffered injury," he added.
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