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Surfside in Florida: judge awards billions to those affected after high

2022-06-23T17:18:33.347Z


About a year ago, 98 people died when a high-rise building near Miami collapsed. The families of the victims are now to be compensated with millions of dollars.


Enlarge image

Aerial view of the cordoned off area at the former site of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, Florida

Photo: MARCO BELLO / REUTERS

The families of a devastating skyscraper collapse near Miami must be compensated with 1.02 billion US dollars.

This is reported by the AP news agency, citing a judgment by the Miami-Dade Circuit Court. Among other things, the sum is intended to compensate the survivors of the 98 fatalities and the owners of the collapsed apartment complex.

"It will never be enough to compensate for the tragic loss they have suffered," Judge Michael Hanzman said, referring to the victims' families.

Hanzman described the result of the so-called fairness hearing, in which those affected could raise objections to the settlement, as "remarkable" and "extraordinary".

Millions also to owners

According to the AP, a large part of the enormous sum will go to the victims' family members.

Around $100 million has been granted for legal costs, and $96 million is to go to owners who lost their apartments in the collapse.

According to the AP, one survivor expressed relief at the result.

The 12-storey apartment complex Champlain Towers South with a total of 136 residential units partially collapsed on June 24th.

The investigation uncovered alleged deficiencies in the building's maintenance and original construction.

However, the exact cause is still under investigation and it could be years before a result is available, according to the AP.

For safety reasons, the rest of the building was later deliberately blown up.

According to the AP, in addition to insurance companies, engineering offices and a newly built apartment complex right next to the collapsed high-rise have to pay for the sum.

The construction of the neighboring building allegedly caused damage that ultimately led to the collapse.

The property on which the accident occurred is to be sold for 120 million, according to the AP.

fek/AP

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2022-06-23

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