With a very heavy heart, after nearly thirteen years of representing and advocating for Miami condominium unit owners against condominium associations, we begin addressing the horrific and unprecedented Surfside condominium collapse.
For nearly thirteen years, Mary Ann Ruiz, P.A. has strived to be a valuable resource to the South Florida condominium community, and we hope to address all the questions and concerns which we are receiving in a series of blog posts.
Those with missing family members should be taking a few important steps at this time, following this unprecedented and horrific building collapse.
First, they should contact the family reunification and emergency hotlines. If their family member cannot be located, then the investigation will turn into identification of remains. While this is not quite a 9/11 situation, given the massive forces involved and the destruction, it may be difficult to identify the remains. The families may be asked to provide medical, dental and other records. Next of kin will have to be established.
Second, the families will likely want to retain counsel experienced in collapse cases who have a team of experts to determine who is at fault and why. This will require the expertise of forensic engineers, structural engineers, and other construction professionals. Also, this is a condominium issue. Residents of the condominium should ensure that the condominium association is taking all available steps, including providing for relocation.
This is an unprecedented event and the families will sadly be dealing with this for years to come. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families, including those I know personally, who are still searching for loved ones, and with our first responders, for their brave and immediate assistance.
Personas con familiares desaparecidos deben tomar importantes pasos a este tiempo, siguiendo este sin precedente y horroroso colapso de edificio.
Lo primero es la identificación de los restos. Aunque no es una situacion como el nueve onze, dada las fuerzas masivas envueltas y la destrucción, va a ser muy difícil la identificación de los restos. Los familiares pueden ser requeridos de proveer registros médicos, dentales y otros. Familiares más cercanos se tendrán que identificar.
Segundo, las familias pueden retener a abogados con experiencia en casos de colapsos que tienen equipos de expertos para determinar quién está en falta y por que. Se necesitan ingenieros forensicos, ingenieros de estructura y otros profesionales de construcción. También, esto es un asunto de condominio. Los residentes del condominio deben asegurar que la asociación de condominio esté tomando todos los pasos disponibles, incluyendo proveyendo reubicación.
Esto es un evento sin precedentes y las familias tristemente van a lidiar con esto en años por venir. Mis pensamientos y oraciones están con todas las familias, incluyendo aquellos que conozco personalmente que todavía están buscando a sus seres queridos, y con los primeros en responder por su bravura y asistencia inmediata.
