Bridge Collapse: Who's at Fault?

Aug. 3, 2007 — -- Government agencies and private building contractors could face lawsuits over the collapse of the Interstate 35-W bridge in Minneapolis, lawyers told ABC News, though a dean of the University of Minnesota law school says state law would prevent most victims from recovering much money from the state.

Any legal liability will depend on the results of ongoing investigations into the causes of the collapse, and it's still too early to know who, if anyone, may be legally responsible for the disaster. Investigators will need to find out exactly what caused the collapse, if it could have been prevented and who may have known the bridge could be dangerous, lawyers said.

"There has to be a thorough investigation to find out who's at fault," said Jeffrey Denner, who represents the family of a woman killed in the Big Dig ceiling collapse in Boston last summer.

The state Department of Transportation has primary responsibility for inspecting and maintaining the bridge, a spokesman acknowledged, but Denner said, "I would expect a lot of people are going to have to answer for this, both public and private -- the people responsible for designing, constructing, maintaining, supervising and monitoring the bridge."

But they may not have to answer in court. Fred L. Morrison, the co-dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, told ABC News that Minnesota state law would prevent some lawsuits from going forward and would limit the amount of money the state has to pay out. Those laws would not necessarily impact whether the victims can get money from their insurance companies.

"I think there is probably a very limited chance of any liability recovery," Morrison said.

'Virtually Everyone' Involved

Who, if anyone, is legally responsible for the collapse will depend on what caused the bridge to give way. Lawyers expect anyone contemplating a lawsuit to look at the initial design and construction of the bridge and whether it was properly inspected and maintained.

The Minnesota State Department of Transportation designed the bridge and has primary responsibility for its inspection and maintenance, an agency spokesman confirmed. It was completed in 1967 with a design that is no longer in use.