In June 2023, a stationary tower crane capable of lifting 12 metric tons collapsed at a construction site in Delray Beach, Florida, destroying the crane itself and crushing nearby heavy equipment. The collapse required Stutman Law’s client, the insurer of the crane’s owner, to pay significant damages. Our team moved quickly after the incident to retain a qualified crane expert and investigate the cause of the collapse. Our expert inspected the scene and analyzed the crane’s weight, height and configuration, then opined that the concrete base constructed to support the crane had been improperly designed. In short, the base was insufficient in size and mass to effectively stabilize the massive crane. After filing a negligence lawsuit against the structural engineer responsible for designing the concrete base, Stutman Law negotiated a $475,000.00 settlement, recouping a significant portion of its client’s damages without incurring the risk and expense of trial.