Big Dig tunnel collapse litigation

At a glance

On July 10, 2006, concrete ceiling panels in the I-90 connector tunnel failed, killing Milena Del Valle. The resulting litigation involved multiple contractors, designers, and public entities—each with distinct insurance stacks and liability theories. Public reporting referenced an aggregate recovery on the order of $28.1 million.

Why this matter was high-stakes

Infrastructure collapse cases demand coordinated expert work on engineering failure, causation, and damages for surviving family members. Wrongful-death claims against a project of this scale require trial-ready staffing from intake—preservation of physical evidence, retention of structural and forensic experts, and navigation of overlapping coverage among numerous defendants.

Litigation strategy

Complex tort cases of this magnitude are won or lost on discovery depth, expert credibility, and willingness to carry the case through trial—not on early settlement posture alone. The firm pursued accountability across the contractor chain while developing damages for a family facing catastrophic loss.

What this illustrates

Figures like $28.1 million attract attention; they also rarely repeat on identical facts. Treat this entry as historical reference material reflecting the scale of harm and the complexity of multi-defendant construction litigation—not a damages benchmark for other matters.

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

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