Building Owner Holds Engineering Firm Accountable for Fatal Collapse

The owner of an apartment building in Iowa that collapsed in May, resulting in three deaths, has filed a lawsuit against Select Structural Engineering, blaming them for not warning about the building's structural issues and the need for evacuation. The lawsuit alleges that the engineering company failed to identify the risk of collapse and the necessary repairs. Meanwhile, released emails reveal that a city code enforcement officer was aware of the danger prior to the collapse but was told to "back off" by supervisors. Multiple lawsuits have been filed by residents, claiming negligence on the part of the building owner, engineering company, and city officials.