Halifax deck collapse victims suing Brussels Street homeowners, city

Six plaintiffs who are suing several parties involved in a deck collapse at a south-end Halifax home last September have filed claims against the homeowners, the tenants, the city, as well as the deck's architect and contractor.

Four women and two men, all in their early 20s, suffered injuries when a third-storey deck collapsed around 2 a.m. on Sept. 27. They were standing on the deck when it fell onto another deck below.

Cody Lester Christie, Kataleen Webb, Jackson Strowbridge, Nikolett Ingrid Regeni, Amanda Anastasia Lenko of Pierrefonds, Q.C. and Robin Richardson-Dupuis of Ottawa filed their statements of claim on Aug. 25, alleging negligence.

They are all represented by lawyer Ray Wagner, who says his clients are still dealing with the injuries from that night.

"A number of the injuries relate to some fractures and some serious fractures. There's a lot of soft-tissue injuries," Wagner said. "And of course the trauma — the psychological trauma caused by such a traumatic event."

The six are also suing the man who owned the home when the deck was built, along with the contractor who installed the deck, the architect who designed it and the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Court documents claim the municipality did not make sure the deck was up to building codes, and improperly granted an occupancy permit.

The documents do not specify what damages the plaintiffs are looking for.

Defendants

The deck collapsed during a house party at 921 Brussels Street in Halifax's south end. The house is owned by Darin Sweet, Barbera Sweet, and H.U.M.A. Developments Inc. Darin Sweet is listed as director, president, and recognized agent of H.U.M.A.

All are named in the lawsuits.

The property was rented by a number of people who hosted the party. Christopher Hales, Steven Grieg, Phillip Oelbanm, Connor Lewis, Alexander Rose, Joseph Fish, Aaron Macy and Lyle Miller are defendants in the lawsuit as well.

According to the court documents, the tenants "allowed too many people" on the deck, "in addition to other heavy objects, such as a beer keg," which the plaintiffs say contributed to the deck's collapse.

"The other issue with respect to the compensation for their injuries and the disruption in their lives their work life and their school life that is something that will be determined at a later point in time," Wagner said.

Not the first lawsuits

CBC was not able to obtain comments from other defending lawyers.

None of these allegations have been proven in court, nor have any defendants filed their responses in these matters.

These are not the first lawsuits brought in connection to the deck collapse.

In November 2014, Lillian Plummer and her mother, Irene Plummer, filed a lawsuit alleging negligence against the same defendants.

Each of the defendants have filed responses denying those claims.