Read the original article on Il Fatto Quotidiano.
Prosecutors Maura Ripamonti and Francesca Celle have placed technicians, designers, and legal representatives of the companies involved in the installation and maintenance of the sign under investigation. The alleged offence is negligent collapse, a crime that—under Italy’s corporate liability framework—does not provide for the direct involvement of companies or corporate entities in criminal proceedings.
Ten individuals are currently under investigation by the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office in relation to the collapse of the Generali Tower sign on the Hadid Tower at CityLife, which occurred on June 30. Prosecutors Ripamonti and Celle have entered technicians, designers, and company representatives involved in the installation and maintenance of the sign into the register of suspects on suspicion of negligent collapse. As noted, this offence does not entail corporate criminal liability under Legislative Decree 231/2001.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has appointed technical experts to determine the causes of the collapse, which did not result in injuries or further damage. The technical investigations will be carried out in the presence of, and in adversarial proceedings with, the defence lawyers of the suspects.
On the morning of June 30, the sign on top of the tower collapsed onto itself, remaining partially tilted. The area beneath the skyscraper was cordoned off and pedestrian access was prohibited. At the time of the collapse, according to firefighters’ reports, there were no particularly strong wind conditions, only the high temperatures recorded in the city during that period.
The Generali Tower sign consisted of a central drum, which forms the main structural element, “anchored to the reinforced concrete extension of the tower’s rooftop cores,” which, as the fire brigade further explained, “transfers vertical loads to the support points on the reinforced concrete structure.” Another component is the “spatial tubular truss structure symmetrically extending from the central drum.” Finally, the third element is a “support structure for panels and lettering, consisting of vertical and horizontal members, which also support the maintenance walkways.”
No structural damage to the tower was detected. Just over a month later, on August 7, the entire sign was removed from the top of the building, and the skyscraper has remained in that condition ever since.