The Courts in Arona have acquitted the defendants in the case of the collapse of the Julián José building in Los Cristianos, which tragically claimed seven lives on 14th April 2016. In a verdict issued on Monday (20th January 2025), the presiding judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to assign civil liability to the accused parties.
The building, which housed commercial premises and 28 residential apartments, collapsed amid initial allegations of construction irregularities linked to renovations carried out by a bank on the ground floor. However, expert reports submitted during the trial, including those from the Institute of Materials and Construction Techniques (INTEMAC), concluded that the primary cause of the disaster was the poor quality of concrete used in the building's structural pillars.
The judgment highlighted structural flaws and cracks identified years before the collapse, which had already indicated significant deficiencies in the original construction. While subsequent renovations may have exacerbated the issues, the court found no conclusive evidence linking those works directly to the building's collapse.
Expert Testimonies Undermine Claims of Negligence
The ruling noted that the plaintiffs failed to establish a clear causal connection between the alleged actions of the defendants and the collapse. The court also pointed out that technical findings undermined the plaintiffs' claims, emphasising that the structural failure stemmed from design flaws and substandard materials used in the original construction.
This verdict brings to a close a prolonged legal battle following the devastating collapse, which also underwent a criminal investigation that was dismissed due to a lack of evidence for criminal liability. According to the court's findings, "the technical reports consistently point to structural failure originating in defects in the original design and construction, compounded by inadequate materials."
The decision exonerates the bank and other entities implicated in the case. However, plaintiffs retain the option to appeal the ruling to the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The ruling provides a final judicial perspective on a tragedy that shook the community of Los Cristianos. In the aftermath of the disaster, structural safety concerns in the region were thrust into the spotlight, prompting calls for stricter oversight of construction practices.
