Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik, LLP & Imbesi Christensen File Amended Class Action Against 2 Gold Street

Dec. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- The Law Offices of Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik, LLP, and Imbesi Christensen have filed an amended class action complaint against the owners of two residential buildings located 2 Gold Street and 201 Pearl Street, in New York, New York.  The complaint, which also named TF Cornerstone, Inc., the buildings’ managing agent, alleges various causes of actions including the defendants’ failure to properly prepare the building prior to Super Storm Sandy.  

The original complaint was filed on November 19, 2012, on behalf of over one thousand (1000) residents residing at 2 Gold Street or 201 Pearl Street.  The amended complaint was filed on December 10, 2012.  The amended complaint alleges that the defendants failed to construct proper water barriers around the perimeter of the properties, especially in front of a parking garage entrance that is located on the property.  The complaint alleges that failing to properly secure the garage entrance was a critical error, due to its slope and close proximity to the buildings' mechanical rooms.  Said error allowed extensive amounts of water to penetrate the buildings and their mechanical rooms.    

In the amended complaint, the plaintiffs allege that Frank Vasta, the executive Vice President of Construction for TF Cornerstone, Inc., admitted in a meeting with residents of the building that water penetrated the building through a parking garage entrance located on the property and then penetrated the buildings' mechanical rooms which maintained vital operational equipment.

The amended complaint also alleges that Mr. Vasta admitted that the mechanical rooms did not have restrictive doors that could have prevented the water penetration but represented that he was now "looking into" sealing critical rooms with "submarine style doors."  

Due to the damages caused by the water penetration, the building was rendered uninhabitable, causing residents to evacuate and obtain alternative housing.  The lawsuit seeks damages to compensate tenants for the following:

● Hotel expenses
● Moving expenses
● Real estate broker's fees
● Increased food expenses
● Increased travel expenses
● Clothing replacement
● Furniture replacement

The law firms estimate that the potential damages will be approximately $54,155 per unit.  

For additional information, please visit www.nylawinsurance.com or contact:

Brittany Weiner
Imbesi Christensen
(212) 736-0007
brittany@lawicm.com

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