Construction Contractor Convicted of Homicide After Brooklyn Wall Collapse

In 2019, a five-year-old child lost her life when a stone wall collapsed on her in Brooklyn. At first, it seemed like a freak accident. But after a lengthy investigation, questions were raised about the construction company that built the wall. In May of 2024, a criminal court in New York confirmed that a contractor and his company were guilty of criminally negligent homicide in connection to the wall collapse. Can you take similar legal action if you were injured by a wall collapse in Manhasset?

Long Island Contractor Created “Dangerously Flawed” Stone Fence 

In May of 2024, NBC News reported that a construction contractor had been convicted of homicide for building a “dangerously flawed” stone fence that fatally injured a small child. The child was standing beside the stone wall when the incident occurred, accompanied by her mother and a few family friends. The mother then turned to see the stone wall collapse onto the child “without warning.”

The heavy stone blocks crushed the child’s skull, causing instantaneous death. Although the mother immediately ran to help her daughter, the damage had already been done. A subsequent investigation centered around the contractor who built the wall, and this investigation uncovered numerous building code violations.

First, he was not authorized to even request building permits from the Department of Buildings, so he asked a different contractor to file these applications on his behalf for various renovation projects on the building. However, no permits were ever granted for work on the stone wall. After constructing the wall, the contractor failed to have it checked by a licensed architect or engineer. City engineers who arrived at the accident say that the stone wall had no steel reinforcements, and was mostly held together by the forces of gravity.

As a result, investigators concluded that the wall was completely unstable, causing imminent danger to anyone around it – including the young victim. The Brooklyn District Attorney says that he hopes the homicide verdict will “send a message that dangerous and sloppy work by contractors will have serious consequences.”

Can You Sue for Building Code Violations in New York? 

There was no word on whether this incident led to a personal injury lawsuit, but something like this can certainly lead to civil consequences. Aside from the contractors who build dangerous walls, landlords and property owners may also be liable for resulting injuries. Landlords and property owners are expected to adhere to building codes in the same way as contractors. They are also required to make periodic inspections of their premises to identify any potential hazards.

Key Takeaways

• Deaths caused by building code violations can lead to homicide charges
• You may file a premise liability lawsuit after incidents on private property
• Wrongful death claims can provide compensation and justice for families

 Find an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Manhasset 

If you’ve been searching for a New York personal injury lawyer, look no further than Cohan Law, PLLC. With our help, you can strive for compensation and justice after an injury caused by a negligent contractor. As we have seen, victims and their families can hold construction companies liable for injuries caused by shoddy, unsafe work. To discuss your legal options in more detail, book a consultation today.

Sources: 

nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-construction-wall-collapse-child-death-valley-stream/5411948/#:~:text=A%2048%2Dyear%2Dold%20Nassau,on%20her%2C%20prosecutors%20said%20Tuesday.

nyc.gov/assets/doi/press-releases/2024/May/BklynDANadeem_5_14_2024.pdf