Following the deaths and catastrophic injuries in the Salvation Army building collapse, ThePhillyLawyers helped our client navigate the aftermath; ThePhillyLawyers’ client was part of the $227 million settlement—the largest settlement in Pennsylvania’s history.
On June 5, 2013 Felicia Hill went to work at the Salvation Army retail store at 22nd and Market Streets in Philadelphia. The store was open. Filled with employees and shoppers. The morning started as a normal day, but it ended with tragedy.
At 10:43 a.m., the four-story building next door, which was under demolition, collapsed. The larger building’s brick walls crashed down on the store. While Ms. Hill was one of the lucky survivors, six people died and thirteen others were seriously injured.
Like many, Ms. Hill had to work. She has a large family to support and bills to pay. In the days and weeks before the catastrophic accident, she expressed concern about the adjacent building’s demolition project. Noise. Dust. Bricks fell on the store’s roof. But Ms. Hill had no choice—she had to go to work.
The building next door was one of several buildings owned by Richard Basciano. To construct new apartments, a number of buildings were to be torn down. Unfortunately, Basciano hired a cheap demolition company—a company that had little regard for safety or proper demolition procedures. They valued speed and profit over safety. Here they tore down the building’s inner supports and left the exterior brick walls. Four-story, brick walls left unsupported.
During the demolition, many experienced contractors and excavators knew better, but they did nothing to stop the reckless practices. They knew the danger—that the four-story building could collapse onto the neighboring building or passersby—but they did not stop it. (The construction contractor, Griffin Campbell, and excavator operator, Sean Benschop, later received lengthy prison sentences).
Several times, Basciano’s company notified the Salvation Army of the potential for an uncontrolled collapse that could cause injury and death. But even though the Salvation Army received warnings of the potential catastrophe, they, too, did not protect their employees or customers. When the four-story building under demolition collapsed onto the adjacent Salvation Army store, six people died and fourteen were injured. As the building crumpled around Ms. Hill, she suffered and her coworkers died.
After the tragedy and the trauma, Ms. Hill contacted attorney Emmett Madden at ThePhillyLawyers. Ms. Hill needed short and long-term help. We immediately arranged to meet with Ms. Hill and her family.
Based on the size of the catastrophe and the number of victims, we coordinated and joined with other premiere plaintiffs’ attorneys. The next day, Ms. Hill was the subject of a national press conference where she told her story.
To keep going after these catastrophic life events, it was important that Ms. Hill knew, and understood, her options and what the next steps should be in the coming months and years. We made sure she received all the treatment she needed. We made sure she received workers’ compensation. We did everything possible to help her pick up the pieces to work, to raise her children, to live, and to get through the litigation process. In short, Emmett Madden took the time to not only give legal advice, but to develop a meaningful relationship with her, her fiancé, and her children.
Every time there was a question about the case, or any other matters, Ms. Hill and her family knew that they could rely on Mr. Madden’s guidance. When litigation appeared imminent, and then when trial preparation was needed, Ms. Hill was accompanied by Mr. Madden to every meeting and to every preparation session. In fact, at trial, Ms. Hill was the first witness called to testify, and her testimony was vital to the presentation of the case. After Ms. Hill’s testimony, the jury understood how profound this tragedy really was.
If you suffer a catastrophic injury, or the death of a loved one, it is important to have a lawyer who treats you like a person—not just a case. As with all of our clients, we are proud of the great care we took of Ms. Hill and her family. We develop a meaningful attorney-client relationship founded in respect and in great communication—always making ourselves available to answer calls and questions and to provide solutions. And with catastrophic injuries and death, like the ones that occurred here, to achieve justice, it is also important to have a lawyer who has access to all the best resources in the City of Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania.
On February 8, 2017, a $227 million settlement was reached to be paid to the 19 plaintiffs—including our client, Ms. Hill. It is the largest settlement in Pennsylvania’s history.
