Most people expect their home to have a reliable structure that is going to stand up to routine wear and tear. Sadly, not every construction job is completed with the required attention to detail. That is exactly what happened to a row of homes that required emergency attention to prevent the buildings from collapsing. According to court documents that were filed in the case, the structural engineering used to complete the projects was so poor that emergency efforts were required to prevent the total collapse of the buildings. How does something like this happen?
According to one local expert, the issue stems from issues related to the calculation of the load capacity. When homes are constructed, the floors need to be able to withstand the weight placed on top of them. This includes not only people who might be present but also furniture, columns, beams, and other loads. If the load capacity is not calculated correctly, the result could be the collapse of the entire structure. If someone is inside of the building when this happens, the results could be catastrophic.
According to msclawyers.com, “Nevada law defines a construction defect as a defect in the design, construction, manufacture, repair or landscaping of a new residence.” Construction defects can present an unreasonable risk of injury to either someone inside the building. These defects also have the potential to threaten valuable property. Furthermore, construction has to be maintained once it is completed. Injuries that stem from a lack of maintenance can also be considered a construction defect.
The construction defect case was between the owners of the buildings and the structural engineer who originally built the structures. The owners were originally seeking unspecified damages that would have been determined at trial; however, the matter was settled outside of court. In response to the lawsuit, the structural engineering firm had to reduce its operations. The lawsuit had left them with very little cash left to develop real estate. Instead, the firm has had to turn to renovations, remodeling, additions, and similar projects. They are no longer able to construct buildings from the ground up. The only saving grace is that people were not injured as a result of the miscalculation.
This case only serves to highlight the serious issues that can arise with regard to construction defects. It is important for every building to be constructed with the utmost attention to detail. Otherwise, people’s safety could be threatened.
