SURVIVORS and the families of those killed in the Berkeley balcony collapse in California have begun legal action against companies involved in the construction and maintenance of the building.
They are seeking punitive damages from the building's owners and from more than 30 companies with involvement in the complex.
Six students died and seven were injured after the building collapsed on June 16.
Two law firms acting for those injured and the parents of the six victims filed documents to the Superior Court of California in Alameda County on Thursday.
They are claiming the companies "cut corners" and ignored "red flag warnings" that the balcony was unsafe.
It is understood the lawsuits make allegations the balcony was poorly constructed and sustained dry rot.
It is also alleged officials at the apartment complex knew about the dangers but failed to fix them.
The young students, five of which were Irish, were attending a 21st birthday party when the balcony they were standing on gave way.
The victims were Ashley Donohoe, Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster, Lorcan Miller and Eimear Walsh.
Initial investigations found severe rot in the wooden joists holding the balcony deck to the building had caused it to give way.
RTÉ News has reported that the the legal papers state the families want those responsible for the deaths and injuries to be held "accountable".
They also wish to highlight their alleged wrong-doings "so that a similar tragedy never occurs again".
A criminal investigation into the balcony collapse is also ongoing.
