Collapse kin eye lawsuit

Sketch of suspect in subway-brawl death. THE FAMILY of a senior citizen hardhat killed in a Harlem building collapse identified his battered body Saturday after hiring a lawyer for a likely lawsuit.

“The family wants accountability, they want answers, and they want it done publicly,” said attorney Jeffrey Shapiro, who represents the wife, two adult children and grandkids of Juan Ruiz.

The 69-year-old construction worker died Thursday during demolition of a Columbia University-owned warehouse — part of the Ivy League school’s $6.4 billion new campus construction.

Ruiz’s devastated family went to the medical examiner’s officer to positively identify their patriarch, Shapiro said.

“It’s an experience no one should have to go through,” said Shapiro, adding that the family sent its appreciation to those who expressed “their support and hope” since the tragedy.

“The family knows they can’t bring him back,” said Shapiro. “But they want justice, and they want to make sure nobody else is killed.”

The Daily News reported Columbia has racked up 59 code violations and was forced to halt construction 13 times since its project began two years ago.

The two other workers injured in the collapse — King Range, 60, and Sakim Kirby, 30 — remained in stable condition Saturday at St. Luke’s Hospital.

Kirby’s dad, after hearing about the Ruiz family’s decision to hire an attorney, said it was too soon to say if he would follow the same path.

“It’s a long process, and my major concern is my son’s health. Once that’s done, decisions will be made,” said Curtis Kirby, 50.

“But we’re not concentrating on anything else — my primary focus is his health at this time.”