Settlements reached over US balcony collapse

A SETTLEMENT has been reached for all claims against a number of parties following the Berkeley balcony collapse which killed six students and injured another seven.

Five Irish students and one Irish-American student lost their lives in the tragic incident in June 2015.

They were 21-year-olds Lorcan Miller, Eimear Walsh, Olivia Burke, Niccolai Schuster and Eoghan Culligan.

Irish-American Ashley Donohoe (22), who lived in California and was a cousin of Ms Burke’s, also died in the collapse in the early hours of June 16.

A further seven Irish students were seriously injured when the balcony collapsed during a 21st birthday party. The students were spending a summer in California on a J1 visa which facilitates cultural and educational exchange opportunities.

All of the dead and some of the injured had connections to south Dublin.

A statement issued by Walk up Law Office, which represented all of the Irish victims of the incident, confirmed settlements had been reached of all claims against BlackRock Realty Advisors and Greystar RS California, Inc and their related affiliates.

The terms of the settlement are confidential.

“BlackRock and Greystar have adopted policies and procedures regarding the inspections of balconies on the properties that they own or manage on a regularly scheduled basis,” the statement said. “The parties also have agreed to work to promote greater awareness of balcony safety issues and take appropriate actions to prevent future tragedies of this nature.”

A report earlier this year highlighted problems with water proofing and dry rot damage in heavy wooden beams at the apartments complex.

❝ They’ve agreed to promote awareness of balcony safety ... to prevent future tragedies