Deadly Champlain Towers Collapse In Miami Leads To Class Action Lawsuit Against Condo Association

Following the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers condominium building in Florida last week, a class action lawsuit has been filed against the condo association, alleging that building management neglected apparent structural concerns, leading to the collapse.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Manuel Drezner in Miami-Dade County circuit court on June 24, seeking class action status to pursue damages on behalf of all victims and surviving family members of those who have been injured or killed in the collapse of Champlain Towers South. It names the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association, Inc. as the defendant.

On June 24, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the entire northeast corridor of Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside, Florida collapsed. At least nine deaths have been confirmed, with more than 150 residents remaining unaccounted for, as rescue teams continue to search through the rubble.

According to allegations raised in the lawsuit, the 12-story building collapsed due to Champlain Towers South Condominium Association’s failure to take reasonable steps to prevent the catastrophe, and its failure to monitor the building and activities that reportedly led to the collapse.

Drezner, who was a resident of the condominium, alleges the collapse could have been avoided through the exercise of ordinary care, safety measures and oversight.

The Champlain Towers class action lawsuit indicates the agreement between residents and the condo association specifically states “the association shall maintain, repair and replace at the association’s own expense…all portions of the units…contributing to the support of the building, which portions should include but not limited to, the outside of the building and load bearing columns.”

Drezner seeks in excess of $5 million in damages for plaintiffs similarly situated, and presents claims of breach of contract and breach of implied warranty of habitability.

In the later morning hours following the collapse, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett confirmed with media outlets that the building was undergoing its mandatory 40-year recertification process, and that a concrete restoration project was also being planned at the time of the collapse.

The lawsuit is the first of several anticipated in the coming weeks, as rescuers continue to search through the collapsed building for those who are still missing. Given the nature of the collapse, which included a pancaking of numerous floors, it is expected the death toll will rise significantly.