PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND LAWSUITS WITH BALCONY INSPECTIONS When balconies and other Exterior Elevated Elements (EEEs) fail, the fallout is brutal: loss of life, years of litigation, soaring premiums, and stalled projects. The good news? Nearly every horror story shares the same villains, e.g., hidden moisture, decay, poor waterproofing, and missed maintenance, all of which can be caught early by a professional inspector. Below, we translate high-profile cases into actionable steps for California owners, HOAs, and property managers deciding how to prioritize inspections this year. WHAT THE LAWSUITS KEEP TEACHING US Recent and historic failures show the pattern:
LOCATION YEAR
CASUALTIES
PAYOUT / VERDICT
Berkeley, CA San Francisco, CA Montgomery, AL
2015 1998 2012 2003 2021 1992 2011
6 dead, 7 critically hurt 1 dead, 1 permanent brain injury 8 injured 13 dead, 57 injured ~9 injured
≈ $20 M+ (partial + confidential) $12.39 M jury award > $20 M + $250 K punitive ≈ $16.6 M global settlement No suits (yet)
Chicago, IL Malibu, CA Malibu, CA Chicago, IL
2 dead, ~29 injured 1 catastrophic injury
No suits reported $4.5 M settlement
These snapshots, compiled from recent landlord/industry coverage underline the same root causes: water intrusion, hidden rot, overloaded or compromised members, and aging waterproofing.
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