First lawsuit filed in Philly building collapse

PHILADELPHIA — The first lawsuit has been filed in a deadly Philadelphia building collapse.

On Wednesday, a demolition crew was knocking down a building behind a thrift store when some of the debris spilled onto the store causing it to collapse.

Six people were killed and 13 others were injured.

One of the employees, a 54-year-old woman was pulled from the debris. Her attorneys have asked for a jury trial in a personal injury case against the building owner and the demolition company.

"The question becomes, when you're demolishing in a special circumstance like this, a towering three-story wall above an existing building, what are you going to require, and I think that's more of a public policy decision that people have to talk about it," said attorney Robert J. Mongeluzzi.

A motion filed in court Thursday asks that the building owner and the demolition company to preserve evidence related to the building, including written records.

The mayor has promised a wide-ranging investigation into the collapse.