First Lawsuits Filed in Collapse

The first in what might be a multitude of lawsuits against a Chicago building owner has been filed by the Barrington family of Kelly McKinnell, who died June 29 when a porch in Lincoln Park suddenly collapsed. McKinnell and 12 others were killed.

McKinnell’s parents filed Monday morning a wrongful death suit against Philip Pappas and two of his companies, LG Properties and Restoration Specialist.

"You can imagine the family is quite angry with the loss of their daughter and they have a bunch of questions," said Francis Patrick Murphy of Corboy & Demetro in Chicago.

Pappas’ attorney, Michael Ficaro, could not be reached for comment.

The McKinnells did not yet name the city of Chicago in the lawsuit because they wanted to expedite the serving process.

Their attorneys will now be able to more immediately view and investigate the remains of the porch.

Meanwhile, Murphy won an emergency protective order from Cook County Circuit Court on July 4 that requires Chicago officials to preserve the porch debris and have it moved to an architecture firm in Northbrook, where his experts will scrutinize the evidence.

Also Monday, a lawsuit was filed by attorney Robert Clifford, of Clifford Law Offices, on behalf of David Dermejian, who was injured in the collapse.

Defendants named in the personal injury lawsuit, which demands more that $50,000 in damages, include L.G. Properties Co., Pappas; property manager Jack Emery; renovator George Koutroumbis; and the city of Chicago.

Clifford said he is representing more than one person involved in the accident.