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Jury selection starting in deadly building collapse civil trial

Published  September 6, 2016 10:11am EDT
US
FOX 29 Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF/AP) - Jury selection is set to begin in a civil trial, determining who should pay the victims of a deadly June 2013 building collapse in Center City.

The consolidated lawsuits were filed on behalf of the six people killed and 13 injured when an unbraced four-story brick wall that was being demolished collapsed on the Salvation Army thrift store next store.

The tragedy happened at 22nd and Market streets.

About 120 potential jurors are to be interviewed Tuesday.

Those selected will decide if negligence by any defendant contributed to the collapse. If they find one or more defendants liable, then they'll decide on damages.

The plaintiffs are suing a New York real estate speculator; the Salvation Army; an architect; a demolition contractor; and the man hired to use his excavator to expedite demolition.