By FireRescue1 Staff
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The University of Missouri and the family of a firefighter who was killed on-duty in 2014 settled a wrongful death lawsuit.
Columbia firefighter Bruce Britt died when a balcony of a university-owned apartment collapsed during a fire in 2014. His wife, Leigh, sued the university for negligence, reported The Missourian.
Although the exact amount of the settlement was not publicly disclosed, the university offered to settle to avoid the delay, expense and uncertainty of a trial. When the settlement was filed in court Feb. 1, the university denied liability in Britt’s death.
Part of the settlement will be used to purchase annuity for future payments to Britt’s daughter, Stormy. A hearing for approving the settlement will be held Feb. 14.
Following Britt’s death, an investigation found the balconies at the university-owned apartments were structurally unsound; a 2008 housing plan report recommended they be demolished by 2011.
An investigation conducted by NIOSH found Britt’s death was caused by communication problems; the report also cited the fire department for a lack of situational awareness and pre-planning.