Real Estate
First the Earth Quakes, then the Law Suits
By Keith Porter and Edward Thomas
Older steel-frame buildings built between about 1960 and 1994 pose a very high collapse risk in earthquakes, owing to unexpectedly brittle welds; owners, lessors, employers, management agencies, and even government officials could face serious civil or criminal legal liability if they fail to act on the threat. Topics covered in this article include real estate, commercial buildings, earthquakes, construction, and liability.