Property Owner Cited After Fatal Parapet Collapse in Cypress Hills: DOB Finds Multiple Structural Defects

A fatal construction accident in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, has placed the spotlight squarely on the property owner’s failure to maintain a safe structure. Following the collapse of a parapet wall that killed a 58-year-old worker, New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) inspectors documented severe façade defects at the one-story garage located at 113 Sunnyside Avenue.

The Deadly Collapse

The accident occurred just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, when the worker was struck in the back by a collapsing parapet wall while on the roof of the garage, which shares a lot with a six-story building at 224 Highland Boulevard. Emergency responders removed him from the roof using an aerial ladder, but he was pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital.

DOB Investigation Findings

DOB inspectors conducted an emergency inspection of the garage on September 9, 2025. Their findings were troubling:

Multiple façade defects were observed throughout the garage.
Missing mortar beneath coping stones and spalling masonry bricks were documented.
Inspectors also found missing mortar around bricks and step cracks at various locations, including roof level.
These conditions created a hazardous situation for pedestrians using the public sidewalk.

The DOB issued the following enforcement actions:

A Partial Vacate Order covering the entire roof of the garage.
An ECB violation (#39159799H) against the property owner, J.K. Management, for failure to maintain the façade.
The case was categorized under structural stability affected, underscoring the seriousness of the hazard.

These findings make clear that the collapse — and resulting death — was not an unforeseeable accident, but rather the consequence of a property owner’s failure to maintain the building in a safe condition.

Property Owner Liability in New York City

Under New York law, property owners are legally obligated to maintain their buildings, including facades and parapets, so they do not endanger workers, tenants, or pedestrians. When owners ignore these responsibilities and defects accumulate, they can face civil liability for accidents and deaths caused by unsafe conditions.

In this case, the DOB’s violation and detailed inspection report strengthen potential claims by establishing that the garage was not properly maintained. The documented defects — missing mortar, cracks, and spalling masonry — show that the danger was foreseeable and preventable.

Our NYC Construction Accident Lawyers have handled many cases where unsafe building conditions led to tragic injuries and deaths. We have also represented families in high-profile building collapse cases, where property owners and contractors failed to meet their legal obligations to maintain structural safety.

Legal Options for Families After a Fatal Collapse

For the victim’s family, several avenues of legal recovery may exist, including:

Wrongful death claims against the property owner for negligence.
Third-party liability claims if contractors or others contributed to unsafe conditions.
Workers’ compensation benefits, though these are often limited compared to civil claims.

By holding property owners accountable, the law not only provides compensation for grieving families but also ensures that future tragedies are prevented through stricter adherence to safety regulations.

Contact Our NYC Construction Accident Lawyers

This heartbreaking case is a stark reminder of what happens when property owners fail to maintain their buildings. The DOB’s own investigation confirms that multiple structural defects created hazardous conditions — conditions that ultimately cost a worker his life.

If you or your family have been impacted by a construction accident or building collapse in New York City, contact the attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf. For more than a century, we have held negligent property owners accountable and secured record verdicts and settlements for accident victims and their families.

Call 212-943-1090 today for a free consultation or tell us about your case online through our contact form.