Sal Verrastro Expert Witness Salvation Army building collapse 2013

Picture of the three buildings in the collapse of the Hoagie city building in June of 2013.  Sal brought a new perspective to the events of the trial where he was the expert witness helping to defend the Architect the Salvation Army hired to inspect the building on the corner. Sal helped the Architect for the Salvation Army Building by explaining his comments and his notes about what may have to be accomplished to the building after demolition.  The events started in March of 2013 when the developer from NY decided to tear down the three buildings to the left of the Salvation Army location on the corner.  The developer wanted to purchase the Salvation Army store but it was not for sale.  Jack the Architect for the Salvation Army building was asked to come in and tell Mr Fraser (who was never present at the building...FACILITIES REPRESENTATIVE) what he (Jack) thought they may need to do the building after the demolition was completed next door.  One of the things was to take care of the what would now be an interior wall and make any necessary repairs. Jack made comments in his notes and his e-mail to Mr. Fraser about the chimney that was attached to the Hoagie City building.  The Chimney would have to come down and the developer would have the responsibility of replacing he chimney.  There were some cosmetic changes that would need to be completed on the interior but nothing that would affect the integrity of the building.   

    Jack took his notes after he heard of the building collapse and rewrote them so anyone else reading them would understand them and then destroyed the originals.  A mistake Jack later realized because the attorney's thought he was hiding something.  Sal as a witness reported that most if not all Architects have their own way of taking notes and the average person would not be able to read them.  Jack was excluded from the award because of Sal's testimony but in the end there was an award of over $200 million dollars of which the Salvation Army was responsible for 75% of that award.  This trial decided who was responsible for the Salvation Army employees and any other persons that were hurt or killed as a result.  The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspection person that was on the site at all times took his life approx. 8 days after the collapse bringing the total loss of life to 8 people.  The developer was asked to pay 5% of the award and others involved in the demolition of the building were asked to pay the rest of the 20%.  This was a tragedy that may have been avoided if the developer and the demolition contractor would have taken the necessary precautions to protect the people inside the building and the pedestrians on the sidewalk walking by the site. 

    This was an amazing story and we all thank Sal for giving this update to what happened those days in 2013.