Lawsuit filed in garage collapse

DORAL, Fla. (WSVN) -- The family of a man who lost his life in the Miami-Dade College garage collapse has filed the first lawsuit against several construction companies.

The family of Jose Calderon Silva filed the first lawsuit Friday morning. According to the attorneys representing the family, Silva was working near a beam at the five-story garage on Oct. 10, when it came crashing around him. He would not survive.

His attorneys described Silva as a married man of more than 20 years and father of two children. He was working on the garage, which was under construction, as a welder.

His attorneys contend a crane struck the structure two days prior. They called a supposed inspection that took place "inadequate." That is the basis of their lawsuit. Stuart Grossman, one of the attorneys representing the Calderon Family said, "Any trauma, and impact to the side of a building can cause whatever movement, which when it finally takes hold, which in this case seemed to be in two days after the crane incident, the house of card collapses."

"If there was an inspection," added attorney Andrew Yaffa, "it was inadequate, and I stress the word if."

The family did not speak at the news conference Friday morning announcing the lawsuit. However, their attorneys released the following statement: "We're devastated over the loss of the leader of our family. He was a wonderful husband and father, and he will be missed for all time."

The lawsuit names five companies:

-Ajax Building Corporation Southeast, Inc.
-M.A.R. Contracting, Inc.
-MEP Inspections and Engineering, Inc.
-Bliss & Nyitray, Inc.
-Harvard Jolly, Inc.

Asked to comment, several of these companies released statements. Bill Byrne, President Ajax Building Corporation, released the following statement: "Our focus and concern is still on the families of those who died or were injured in this tragic accident. At the same time, we are actively cooperating with local, state and federal authorities in the investigation. It would be inappropriate for us to comment on legal matters, however our thoughts and prayers are with all the affected families."

Meanwhile, the family of Robert Budhoo, the last of the deceased pulled from rubble just this past Thursday, also said they plan to file a lawsuit either Monday or Tuesday.

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