First Lawsuit Filed After Deadly Building Collapse
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - With many questions still remaining in the Center City building collapse, the first lawsuit was filed Thursday.
One of the 14 injured victims, a Salvation Army store employee, is now suing the owners of the collapsed building and the demolition company.
On the job at the Salvation Army store for eight months, 54-year-old Nadine White was buried in the rubble for 10 to 15 minutes before she was rescued. She was treated and released from the hospital and, with the help of attorney Robert Mongeluzzi, is filing suit.
"We have named as defendants, the owner, Richard Basciano and STB Investment, along with Griffin Campbell and his demolition company," said Mongeluzzi.
They allege the demolition process was flawed. Mongeluzzi saying it was, "grossly reckless, if not criminally negligent."
"Should the Salvation Army have closed down so that they could perform the demolition safely? No. The demolition should have been prepared safely so that the Salvation Army could continue," said Mongeluzzi.
They also filed an emergency motion for those named in the suit to preserve all evidence. And notably not named was the City of Philadelphia. Mongeluzzi saying that litigation could come down the road.
