Privatizing Building Inspections: Creating Premises Liability Issues?

September 02, 2010 (Press-News.org) One major impact of the Great Recession has been a reduction in revenue to many municipalities and other local government entities. Town boards, city councils and county commissioners around the country face tough choices when it comes to delivering services to residents and businesses within their jurisdictions. A recent example in New Jersey could end up causing more problems than it solves.

New Jersey's Gloucester Township recently laid off all six of its building inspectors and is accepting bids from private contractors to handle review and inspections for all building, electrical, elevator, fire protection and plumbing permit applications. Mayor Dave Mayer explained that the town is facing a $400,000 shortfall in expected permit fees due to a slowdown in construction activity, and projected funds only cover about half of the department's budget. "The economy is what it is; the revenue is just not there to sustain it," he told the Courier-Post, a South Jersey newspaper. But the very idea of distancing local government oversight from such crucial safeguards poses potential problems.

Cost-cutting landlords, shoddy builders and negligent contractors are capable of taking shortcuts that can pose future dangers to residents and visitors to all types of buildings. Code violations involving substandard materials or techniques can lead to anything from a slip and fall in a spot where ice accumulates to a major electrical fire in an apartment building. People going about their daily lives with every expectation that their environment is safe can suffer broken bones, severe burns, other catastrophic injuries and even death.

Asserting a Claim for an Injury Sustained Due to Faulty Building Practices and Other Unsafe Conditions

People who have suffered injuries due to unsafe conditions on private property, whether they resulted from shoddy construction, poor maintenance or another unsafe condition, should assess the full extent of their injuries before deciding whether legal action may be necessary. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help clients pursue proper medical care while explaining their full range of legal options.

Article provided by The Law Offices of Thomas J. Mallon
Visit us at www.tmallonlaw.com