Victims of Deadly California Balcony Collapse File Lawsuits

Several killed in balcony collapse in BerkeleyA video from June showed that the support beams had become brittle and had fallen apart.

“The unimaginable terror that each victim experienced during the fall was eclipsed by the carnage on the ground”.

“Six students died, and the seven survivors suffered substantial and lifelong physical and emotional injuries”.

The lawsuits accuse the building manager, Greystar, the building owner, BlackRock, and the construction firm that built the balcony, Segue, of negligence.

The suits allege that during the building’s construction in 2005, general contractor Segue installed cheaper wood that was more vulnerable to water intrusion in the balcony, contrary to the approved design plans.

OSB is less expensive than plywood, the complaint states, and is more susceptible to water damage. The suits also name companies the plaintiff’s allege did the waterproofing on the balconies and architects, engineers, subcontractors and building material suppliers. Moisture had seeped into the sealed deck and rotted out the wooden joists, according to the city.

They claim that previous tenants reported seeing mushrooms – a clear sign of rot – on the Berkeley balcony, but the building’s management did not close the structure off. The tenant’s complaints about the mushrooms are contained in a written document.

It’s understood the lawsuits make allegations the balcony was poorly constructed and sustained dry rot, while it is also alleged officials at the apartment complex knew about the dangers but failed to fix them.

The BlackRock and Greystar defendants acted in a “despicable and malicious” manner and “with wilful and conscious disregard of the rights and safety of others”.

They are claiming the companies “cut corners” and had ignored “red flag warnings” that the balcony was unsafe – Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, & Schoenberger, is representing 12 of the families.