Broward County has filed a lawsuit against the construction group it says is responsible for the crane collapse that killed a worker in Fort Lauderdale in April 2024 and injured several others, including a woman who has filed her own suit in the case.
The woman, Gemmalyn Castillo, is suing for more than $50 million in damages.
The county’s lawsuit, filed on April 3, accuses Kast Construction, Maxim Crane Works, Phoenix Rigging & Erecting, Gables Residential Services and CG Riverwalk of negligence in the accident that killed construction worker Jorge De La Torre, 27, who died after he fell off the side of the building when a platform that held equipment failed.
The 42-story building under construction at 333 N. New River Drive East was recently completed.
Castillo was a passenger in a Tesla passing the site when a piece of crane equipment fell on the vehicle.
The deputy county attorney who prepared and filed the county’s lawsuit declined to comment. According to the suit, the companies “breached their duty” by failing to secure the crane.
The lawsuit does not specify how much the county is seeking from the companies, which did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday. Each company filed responses to Castillo’s lawsuit denying culpability for the accident. A trial date has not been set.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Twitter (X) @OlmedaNews.