FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2015
Contact: Robert Weiner 202-329-1700 or
Mary Alexander and Associates: 877-454-9315
IRISH STUDENTS AND ONE IRISH-AMERICAN KILLED AND INJURED AND THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE JUSTICE FROM FAULTY CONSTRUCTION, ASSERTS FORMER AMERICAN TRIAL LAWYERS’ PRESIDENT MARY ALEXANDER, SAN FRANCISCO ATTORNEY;
ALEXANDER, A BERKELEY GRADUATE WITH IRISH ANCESTORS, SIGNED CONDOLENCES IN IRELAND AND SAYS VICTIMS WIDELY MOURNED IN THAT NATION; INSPECTS BERKELEY SITE ON RETURN, CONFIRMS FLAWS; ALEXANDER HAS WON 12 BALCONY CONSTRUCTION FLAW CASES
(San Francisco, CA) – “The Berkeley balcony Irish students killed and injured and their families deserve justice for faulty construction,” asserted former Association of Trial Lawyers of America national president (now the American Association for Justice) Mary Alexander, a San Francisco victims’ rights attorney who has handled and won 12 local area balcony and rail collapse cases.
Alexander, who happened to be traveling in Ireland when the tragedy struck, returned Monday from Ireland. While there, she observed how it deeply affected all of Ireland. She said,“The Irish nation is widely mourning the balcony victims and they are overwhelmed with the thoughts of the devastation to the victims and their families.” Upon her return, Alexanderinspected the Berkeley collapse site. Ms. Alexander issued the following statement today:
“Traveling in Ireland last week with my family, the news broke of the balcony collapse in Berkeley killing six and injuring seven young Irish people.The outpouring of love and support by the Irish for their young people and their families was remarkable. Throughout the country there were vigils, memorials and condolence books—I signed one at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin as my heart went out to them.”
“The tragedy in Berkeley is made more poignant by the fact that it should never have happened. It is outrageous that the builders, owners, and property managers failed to safely construct, waterproof, inspect and maintain the balcony to prevent the dry rot which initial official reports state caused the catastrophic failure.”
“As a personal injury attorney in San Francisco, I have handled 12balcony/railing collapse cases that involved death and serious injury, including paralysis. I have seen the devastation that the failures can cause and I have fought to hold accountable those responsible. When I returned to San Francisco, which happened to be the same day the families were returning to Ireland with their loved ones, I went to the scene to investigate the balcony failure.”
“I was shocked to see that in this large apartment complex, built in 2007, there were only two such balconies, one of which failed. That begs the question as to whether the lack of uniformity led to the faulty construction and waterproofing of those two balconies which faced the weather—the fog, rain, and wind coming from the west—causing the wood to rot, as well as the beams holding up the balcony. Even a simple $200 inspection by an expert every year could have identified the rot or defective design, before they caused collapse.
Alexander concluded, “These beautiful young people and their families deserve justice.”
PHOTOS by Mary Alexander related to balcony collapse killing and injuring Irish students:
| At site 1 | At site 2 | Signing St. Patrick's condolences book 1 | Signing St. Patrick's condolences book 2
Link to Mary Alexander and Associates balcony cases:
Source: Robert Weiner Associates and Mary Alexander and Associates