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Iowa building collapse kills 3; lawsuits allege owners failed to warn of decay.

Brooke MalloryJune 5, 2023

Three Bodies Recovered from Collapsed Iowa Building, Lawsuits Filed Against City and Owner

Search and rescue effort continue at a six-story apartment building nearly a week after a section of the building collapsed on June 4, 2023 in Davenport, Iowa. Demolition of the building was scheduled to begin last week, but community members protested what they felt was the lack of effort searching for still-missing residents and the demolition was delayed. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

It has been a week since a century-old building in Iowa partially collapsed, and the bodies of three men have been recovered from the scene of the fallen six-story apartment complex, according to Davenport’s police chief. The search for survivors had been called off before the discovery of the bodies. Meanwhile, lawsuits have been filed against the city and the building’s owners for negligence and failure to warn residents of the building’s deteriorating condition.

“The city had warning after warning,” said attorney Jeffrey Goodman, who represents one of the plaintiffs. “They had the responsibility to make sure that the safety of the citizens came first. It is very clear that the city of Davenport didn’t do that.”

Unanswered Questions

The incident has raised many unanswered questions, including why neither the owner nor local officials warned neighbors about potential risks. Days prior to the collapse, a structural engineer’s study revealed that a wall of the century-old structure was in imminent danger of collapsing. The lawsuit filed against the city and the building’s owners also names two businesses that were used to inspect and repair the structure, including the business of that engineer. All parties, according to the lawsuit, “recognized the imminent danger residents faced, yet allowed the building to deteriorate while failing to warn residents that their lives were in danger.”

Continued Efforts

Officials are currently using an excavator and other heavy equipment to remove parts of the debris pile, and seeking advice from specialists on how to properly bring down the remainder of the building. Explosives are not an option due to the building’s location in a busy area of downtown Davenport and its adjacency to other buildings. The governor of Iowa has visited the location and offered assistance and resources while coordinating with local officials.