Salvation Army to Be Named in Philadelphia Building Collapse Lawsuits

The Salvation Army will become the latest defendant in litigation over a deadly Philadelphia building collapse.

Six people died inside a Salvation Army thrift store when an adjacent building being demolished collapsed on them in June.

Lawyer Robert Mongeluzzi says the Salvation Army played “a game of chicken” with its neighbor over the demolition, despite known safety risks.

Emails show the building owner’s failed efforts to put a tarp over the thrift store or place a bucket truck above it to remove a four-story brick wall by hand.

Mongeluzzi represents several survivors and the family of one woman killed.

He opposes an indicted contractor’s efforts Wednesday to delay the civil lawsuits until a criminal probe is completed.

A Salvation Army lawyer did not immediately return a message Thursday.

Topics Lawsuits