Structural collapse attorneys note a satisfying conclusion to the story of a sudden, deadly collapse of an entire apartment block in Shanghai. A court in Shanghai, China convicted Que Jingde and Zhang Zhiqin for their roles in causing the collapse of a 13-story, newly completed apartment tower that fell on its side almost intact in June 2009.
Que and Zhang were the two largest shareholders in the Shanghai Meidu Real Estate firm involved in building the tower. Investigations regarding the apartment tower collapse found that the foundation of the structure suffered critical weaknesses because of the piling of excavated soil on one side and the digging of an underground parking garage by an unqualified contractor.
China Daily, a state-run media outlet, reported that the court convicted Que on one charge of graft and Zhang on multiple counts of:
The court sentenced Que Jingde and Zhang Zhiqin to life in prison and confiscated their personal assets. According to reports, Que possessed personal assets worth about $300,000 and Zhang possessed personal assets worth almost $750,000.
Our structural collapse attorneys wonder if the court’s strong sentence will send a message to the other builders throughout China engaged in constructing edifices and infrastructure at a record pace. Many worry that Chinese builders are ignoring sound building practices and safety standards, as well as using poor materials and unqualified contractors, in a rush to get things done. Such haste can only lead to further fatalities and debilitating injuries when the weak constructions fail.
Our structural collapse attorneys point out that any gains Que and Zhang might have reaped from their negligence relating to the apartment tower construction were short-lived. But they will pay for that negligence for the rest of their lives. Both of these men now have a lifetime to ruminate over the costs of hasty and shoddy construction.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Modern China shouldn’t be either.