Lawsuits against Skanska USA are mounting as local families and business owners begin to quantify the damages caused by the construction firm’s wayward barges.

During Hurricane Sally in mid-September, barges owned by Skanska came unmoored and crashed into the Pensacola Bay Bridge and many surrounding shorelines. The bridge suffered significant damage and will remain closed for repairs through at least March 2021.

Last week, the Pensacola law firm Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz PLLC sued Skanska on behalf of five Pensacola and Gulf Breeze businesses who say they have suffered significant financial losses because of the bridge closure and the subsequent lack of commuter traffic. 

On Thursday, the firm filed new complaints on behalf of 11 additional businesses:

  • Marble Slab, Gulf Breeze
  • Shan Kishi, Gulf Breeze
  • Gulf Breeze Bait & Tackle, Gulf Breeze
  • Gulf Breeze Paddle, Gulf Breeze
  • Tip N Toe Nail Salon, Gulf Breeze
  • Aloha Screen Printing, Gulf Breeze
  • Jacob’s Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Gulf Breeze
  • Soft Tissues Therapies, Gulf Breeze
  • Lazy Days Beach Rentals, Pensacola Beach
  • Nom Sushi Izakaya, Pensacola
  • Pensacola Ballroom Academy, Pensacola

“This brings our case total to 16 cases filed on behalf of small businesses against Skanska,” Samuel Geisler, a partner with Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, said in a statement. “We intend to continue filing on a weekly basis with suits filed on behalf of individuals soon.”

Continue reading