News: Condo residents were warned of damage months before collapse, report says
SURFSIDE, FL – Residents of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside were warned about growing damage to the building months before it collapsed last week, according to a report in the New York Times.
The Times obtained a copy of an April 9 letter written by the president of the condo association board of directors, Jean Wodnicki. In it, she said “the observable damage such as in the garage has gotten significantly worse since the initial inspection,” which had been carried out in 2018.
Wodnicki also wrote that the initial inspection indicated that concrete damage would “multiply exponentially” in the years ahead.
Wodnicki’s letter explained to residents why they were being asked to pay a $15 million special assessment for construction work. She said the condition of the building had significantly deteriorated and added, ““When you can visually see the concrete spalling (cracking), that means that the rebar holding it together is rusting and deteriorating beneath the surface.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the death toll from the collapse in Surfside remained at 11, with 150 people still unaccounted for. Search-and-rescue teams were continuing their painstaking work of digging through the rubble to look for any possible survivors, while family members were anxiously awaiting any word on the fate of their loved ones.
The White House said that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Surfside on Thursday to visit the area.
If you feel that a loved one has died as the result of another person’s negligence, please contact the Hickey Law Firm for a free case review. Our Miami wrongful death lawyers can help your family file a wrongful death lawsuit and guide you through the entire process. We will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve during this trying time. To schedule a free consultation regarding your individual case, call us at 888-913-4296, text 844-984-1937, or reach out to us online.
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