There is extensive documentation to indicate there was a lack of proper maintenance to the building and not just a one-time event, but a systemic lack over decades. (Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP)
The investigation and ongoing litigation into the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Fla. continue to this day. As per the judge in a recent hearing, the trial will commence in March 2023. A previous article discussed potential underwriting changes as a result of this collapse. This article focuses on the more pressing issues from an insurance claims perspective, root cause and liability.
Possible causes of failure
In forensic engineering investigations, the scientific method is the court-accepted methodology in which the root cause is determined. What that means is that all possible causes of failure must first be identified and then, through an analysis of the evidence, those possible causes that don't align with the physical evidence can be discarded.
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