Miami premises liability lawyers

What should have been a balmy seaside morning in Miami quickly turned to chaos, confusion, and horror on June 24, 2021 as a 12 story, 130 unit condominium Champlain Condominium building suddenly collapsed. Miami’s NBC affiliate News Channel 6 covered the incident, with at least one witness describing the Champlain Towers South Condo as falling flat like a pancake into a pile of rubble. First responders arrived from Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County to assist with the search and rescue effort which will continue and be followed by a thorough investigation. The level of mass destruction demands a meticulous probe into how such a tragedy could happen.

The focus right now is on search and rescue, helping survivors, helping displaced residents and comforting families. In time, victims and their family members will want to understand their legal rights and remedies. Many of the issues will revolve around Florida premises liability concepts, potential violations of the Florida Building Code, and other details which will depend upon the results of officials’ investigation. At Gerson and Schwartz, our hearts go out to all victims and those affected. We continue to investigate and gather information. Still, here is a summary of the information available now.

Updated Facts on the Champlain Condo Building Collapse in Surfside

Amid both fanfare and controversy, a recent anti-riot bill was passed by Florida lawmakers and signed into law on April 19, 2021. NBC Miami News Channel 6 outlined some of the key points of the Combating Public Disorder Act, which aims to crack down on violent, unlawful misconduct stemming from civil unrest. Proponents have argued that the new law protects businesses and supports law enforcement when peaceful protests turn into physical aggression and illegal criminal activity. Opponents contend that the anti-riot law disproportionately affects minorities and amounts to racism, in addition to being a restriction on First Amendment free speech rights.

Regardless of your view of the anti-riot statute in Florida, there are implications that you may not expect if you are pursuing a negligent property owner after being injured. One provision may benefit your claim, while another imposes significant limitations on your legal rights. Your Miami premises liability attorney can describe the implications, but an overview of the anti-riot law may be helpful.

The GOOD: Elimination of a key barrier to civil claims. Government bodies and agencies enjoy sovereign immunity, a legal concept that provides these entities with protection from civil lawsuits. For instance, you typically cannot sue the City of Miami if you slip and fall on municipal property. The anti-riot bill strips sovereign immunity from any government body that interferes with law enforcement in protecting the public during civil unrest. In other words, you could sue Miami if the city defunds the police, and you were subsequently hurt during a riot.

Articles Tagged with Miami premises liability lawyers

Champlain Towers Condo Collapse: Early Assessment of Causes, Contributing Factors in the Surfside Tragedy

Florida’s New Anti-Riot Bill: Surprising Implications for Miami Premises Liability Cases