The owner of a unit at the Surfside condo building that suffered a deadly collapse last month is suing the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association in a proposed class action that seeks $5 million in damages.
And in a related action, the association said in a statement Friday that it will appoint an independent secured creditor to deal with the legal issues associated with the collapse. The destruction at the 135-unit, 12-story residential building has left 18 people dead and more than 140 unaccounted for.
“The surviving members of the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association board have concluded that, in the best interest of all concerned parties, an independent receiver should be appointed to oversee the legal and claims process,” the association board said in a statement emailed to the Florida Record on Friday.
The board also expressed condolences for everyone affected by the unfolding tragedy and gratitude to emergency rescue crews who have been working around the clock to locate survivors.
“We know that answers will take time as part of a comprehensive investigation, and we will continue to work with city, state, local and federal officials in their rescue efforts, and to understand the causes of this tragedy,” the board said.
The association will work with government officials to identify the causes of the tragedy, the board said. A spokesman for the association indicated that the condo board could not comment on the pending litigation filed in the state’s 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County by condo unit owner Manuel Drezner.
The collapse that occurred in the early morning on June 24 occurred due to the association’s omissions and failures to protect building residents’ lives and homes, according to the complaint.
“According to public statements made by defendant’s attorney Ken Direktor, ‘repair needs had been identified’ with regard to certain structural issues but had not been implemented,” the lawsuit says. “One of the most breathtakingly frightening tragedies in the history of South Florida followed.”
The complaint also anticipates the possibility of more defendants being added to the lawsuit. These potential defendants would be those who contributed to the tragedy through wrongful conduct, according to the complaint filed by the Brad Sohn Law Firm PLLC in Coral Gables.