Parents Of Berkeley Victims File US Lawsuits Over Balcony Collapse

The parents of all students killed and injured in the California Berkeley collapse have filed legal actions against 37 defendants in relation to the case. Six students lost their lives and seven more were injured in the tragic accident which took place in June of this year. According to the Irish Times, their parents are now taking cases against various property and construction firms associated with the apartment block involved, including its owner Blackrock and manager Greystar. [caption id="attachment_238564" align="alignnone" width="594"]  A well wisher leaves a flag on a memorial at the scene of the balcony collapse in June. [/caption] It was reported by the City of Berkeley inspectors that the balcony collapsed because of severe dry rot following water damage. However, a criminal investigation has alleged that the defendants "cut corners" and ignored signs of the dry rot, which had been reported as far back as 2008. American lawyers for the parents of the victims filed the legal proceedings in a California court on Thursday. Dublin students Eoghan Culligan, Lorcán Miller, Niccolai Schuster, Eimear Walsh, Olivia Burke and Irish-American Ashley Donohoe tragically lost their lives in the June 16th balcony collapse. Aoife Beary, Clodagh Cogley, Sean Fahey, Conor Flynn, Jack Halpin, Niall Murray and Hannah Waters were injured in the fourth floor balcony fall.