NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A man whose wife died when she was hit by falling debris on a Manhattan street has filed a lawsuit against the building's owner and the city, claiming negligence and wrongful death.
A piece of façade fell from the building at the corner of Seventh Ave. and 49th St. and hit 60-year-old Erica Tishman, a prominent architect and mother of three, as she was walking on the street below on Dec. 17.
Records show the building was cited last April for failing to maintain the façade, but repairs were never reported. Beyond a fine, there was never any more followup.
Steven Tishman filed a civil suit, naming Himmel + Meringoff Properties, LLC, the owners of the Seventh Avenue building, and the city of New York.
The city's corporation counsel in a statement called the death a "tragic incident'' and said the case was being reviewed.
A representative for the building owners also issued a statement calling Tishman's death a "profound tragedy.''
The deadly incident prompted city officials to propose a bill that would require the Department of Buildings to do a drone inspection within 48 hours after a complaint to 311.