Iowa Building Collapse Exposes Failures in Safety and Insurance Systems.

Many people, including a structural engineer, a masonry company head, and city officials, were aware of the structural issues at the 116-year-old Davenport apartment building in Iowa before it collapsed, killing three people and leaving about 50 tenants homeless. Tenants have filed lawsuits, arguing that the tragedy was preventable and that no one warned them of the danger. City officials have promised to examine their inspection process but have also repeated that a certified engineer vouched that the building was safe, so the city had no reason to think it wasn't. The building owner has been fined $300 for failing to maintain the building in a safe condition.