Berkeley tragedy: Builders sued for similar failings

Images of rotting wood left exposed by the deadly collapse of a balcony in Berkeley are “incredibly similar” to pictures used in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the construction company that built the complex where six students died, it was claimed last night.

Segue Construction, which built Library Gardens near downtown Berkeley, is under increasing pressure to explain how the balcony at the relatively newly built complex snapped and flipped, launching 13 young people five floors onto the street below.

The company has settled two lawsuits in recent years, for a total of $6.5m, both linked to water penetrating through to wood framing of the buildings, including balconies.