Broward County is hauling a cluster of construction firms into court over last year’s deadly crane collapse in downtown Fort Lauderdale, claiming the mishap wrecked a county drawbridge and left taxpayers on the hook for costly repairs.
The new lawsuit targets the construction team behind the high-rise where a crane partially collapsed in April 2024, killing a worker and slamming into a county-owned drawbridge. The complaint accuses the developer, general contractor and crane companies of negligence and says the collapse caused significant structural damage to public infrastructure. County attorneys say they are seeking compensation for bridge repairs and related losses as the case moves through Broward Circuit Court.
As reported by The Real Deal, the complaint names West Palm Beach-based Kast Construction, Maxim Crane Works, Phoenix Rigging & Erecting, Gables Residential Services and CG Riverwalk in connection with the April 2024 incident at the Gables Riverwalk site at 333 North New River Drive East. The outlet notes the roughly 42-story building was recently completed and contains about 295 units, and that the county filing alleges the collapse “caused significant structural damage to public infrastructure, including the subject bridge owned and maintained by Broward County.” The suit seeks an unspecified amount of damages for repair and related costs.
OSHA Findings And Federal Review
According to an OSHA news release, U.S. Department of Labor investigators concluded that Phoenix Rigging & Erecting and Maxim Crane Works failed to identify and replace corroded pins and bolts, ensure fall protection and perform required pre-inspections…