On March 15, 2018, six people lost their lives after the partially constructed pedestrian bridge at the Florida International University in Miami collapsed.  This case study will explore the evolution of this project, including the decisions that were made and the discussions that took place in the crucial days and hours before the collapse.  Rather than a purely technical discussion about the structural shortcomings of the bridge, this presentation will focus on the ethical issues encountered in the final days of the project. The presentation will also focus on the investigations and lawsuits that followed and the impact to the project team.  It is my hope that we can all learn from this tragedy.

Speaker: Aaron Mann, Esq., Senior Principal
Chief Legal Officer
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
[email protected]

Aaron is a Senior Principal with Terracon Consultants and serves as their Chief Legal Officer overseeing all facets of risk management.  He has been practicing law for two decades with a focus on business disputes.  Aaron regularly manages outside counsel acting on behalf of the company and works internally to troubleshoot project issues and avoid disputes before they escalate.  He is a frequent presenter at past events hosted by ACEC, ACI, ASCE, GBA, NSPE, and others.

Prior to joining Terracon in early 2016, Aaron was a partner at Husch Blackwell, an AmLaw 100 law firm, where his practice focused on commercial and cross-border litigation.  During his time with Husch Blackwell, Aaron spent four years working in the firm’s office in London, England.  Aaron began his career serving as a judicial clerk for a U.S. District Judge in Kansas City, Missouri.  Aaron earned his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law in 2001.