MU curators deny wrongdoing in fallen firefighter lawsuit

The University of Missouri Board of Curators responded to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Lt. Bruce Britt’s wife, Leigh Britt, denying any wrongdoing in Lt. Britt’s death.

Lt. Britt was killed in February while responding to a walkway collapse at University Village Apartments on the MU campus.

Leigh Britt filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Board of Curators in April.

The lawsuit alleged the university “failed to properly maintain and/or construct University Village Apartments” and that caused there to be dangerous conditions that caused Lt. Britt’s death.

The lawsuit claimed the Board of Curators knew there was a “forseeable risk” at the apartment complex. The suit also stated the Board considered renovating the apartments in December 2012, but failed to do so because of a lack of funding.

“It was the duty of the curators to use the highest degree of care to ensure the apartments were structurally safe and sound, and properly maintained,” according to the wrongful death suit.

The MU Board of Curators responded to the lawsuit on May 12.

The curators denied the lawsuit’s claim that the buildings were not properly maintained, and therefore caused Lt. Britt’s death. Their response said they knew the buildings were built in 1956, but denied the allegation that the building needed renovations by stating, “[The Board of Curators] admits that it operated and maintained the University Village Apartments which employees believed to be structurally sound and safe at all relevant times.”

Britt requested relief of at least $25,000 in the wrongful death suit, but the curators responded by stating no answer is required because the request does not contain a statement of fact. The curators stated no one is entitled to recover relief for wrongful death.

Stay with ABC 17 News for the latest on this developing story.