Iowa Supreme Court rules Davenport city employees can be sued in fatal building collapse case

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that two Davenport city employees and the City as a municipality do not have qualified immunity and can be sued in connection with the fatal downtown apartment building collapse in 2023.

The ruling involves the City of Davenport, former chief building official Trishna Pradhan and current director of development and neighborhood services Richard Oswald.

Both are named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit filed by families of the three people who died, survivors who were injured and displaced tenants.

Pradhan and Oswald argued they were protected by qualified immunity and could not be sued over claims they — along with the City of Davenport — were negligent. A district court judge dismissed their appeal, and the Iowa Supreme Cour