Univ. of Missouri Settles Lawsuit After Fatal Walkway Collapse

The lawsuit had alleged the school knew the walkway had been deteriorating for years but did nothing.
Published: June 13, 2017

The University of Missouri agreed to pay the family of Columbia Fire Lt. Bruce Britt $750,000 after Britt died when a walkway collapsed on campus in 2014.

The June 5 settlement includes payments to Britt’s daughter and wife, the city and attorney fees, reports the Columbia Tribune.

The university admits no negligence as part of the agreement, and Britt’s family agreed to remain silent about the details of the settlement.

In February of 2014, Bruce Britt responded to a call about a roof collapsing at University Village on campus. During that response, a concrete walkway collapsed, trapping Britt underneath and suffocating him.

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A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report noted the walkway had been deteriorating for years, with a university report recommending demolishing the apartment complex six years earlier.

The OSHA report found a lack of information, planning or awareness on the university’s part were the primary contributing factors to Britt’s death.

In the lawsuit, Britt’s wife Leigh accused the university of being responsible for her husband’s death because it didn’t maintain the University Village Apartments, creating a “dangerous condition, of which the Defendant Curators was aware.”

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