$1.2 Billion in Surfside Condo Collapse Litigation
Partner Jeffrey Goodman leads the way to a record-setting $1.2 billion settlement in Surfside condo collapse litigation.
On June 23, 2022, the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County approved a settlement for the victims of the Champlain Towers South Condo Collapse in Surfside, Florida.
The settlement totals approximately $1.2 Billion to be paid to the families of the 98 people who lost their lives and the survivors of the catastrophic collapse. This is the largest settlement in American History for a construction disaster and remarkably was finalized less than 1 year after the collapse.
Mr. Goodman led the Plaintiffs litigation team in proving the cause of the collapse and identifying and collecting from those parties that were responsible. Amongst a deep and talented group of Plaintiffs attorneys, Mr. Goodman was asked to lead the depositions of defendants’ witnesses and lead the collaborations with all expert witnesses.
Following the settlement, the Court took the unusual step of docketing an Order specifically to give Mr. Goodman individual recognition for his extraordinary contributions to the case. In its Order, the Court wrote, “Mr. Goodman is one of the finest construction litigation attorneys that has ever appeared before the Court. His competence and expertise was immediately apparent to everyone involved in this case and his outstanding work was critical to its success. The Defendants were represented by some of the most talented and formidable construction defect lawyers in the country. Mr. Goodman possessed similar experience and skill in complex construction litigation and without his talents and expertise this may not have been a ‘fair fight.’ The [victims were] very fortunate to have him as part of the leadership team.”
SMB President Robert Mongeluzzi also served in Plaintiffs leadership on the case and SMB attorney Sam Dordick was a critical member of the Plaintiffs team, whose diligence uncovered the most important evidence in the case for the victims.
SMB’s thoughts and sympathies will always remain with the brave families that the firm had the privilege of representing in this tragedy.