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.
OSHA cited the contractors for five serious violations and proposed $61,299 in penalties. The agency said those safety lapses could have been prevented and noted that its administrative findings remain separate from any civil liability determinations.
Victims And Earlier Suits
The partial collapse on April 4, 2024 killed 27-year-old construction worker Jorge De La Torre and injured three other people, according to AP News.
One of the injured, rideshare passenger Gemmalyn Castillo, previously filed a negligence suit seeking more than $50 million and alleges she was "crushed by the impact" and suffered severe head and facial trauma, as reported by ENR.
Legal Stakes And Next Steps
Broward's lawsuit, now pending in Broward Circuit Court, adds a government plaintiff to the string of private claims and could influence how insurers and defendants approach potential settlements and repair costs. The county's filing alleges the collapse damaged a county-owned bridge and seeks to recover an unspecified amount for repair and related losses, The Real Deal reports. Several firms involved have previously declined to comment as investigations and litigation continue.
Local Fallout
The new suit is expected to renew scrutiny of downtown high-rise safety and the procedures used when cranes are assembled and climbed over public roadways and bridges. Fort Lauderdale Teacher Sues collected local reaction last year after the collapse and the early rounds of litigation, highlighting ongoing community concern as the county now pursues its own claim.
