Tragic federal case consolidation
A 2014, fatal cell tower collapse in West Virginia saw action this week in the form of case consolidation. In February 2014, a tower in Clarksburg collapsed, killing two tower climbers and injuring others. The collapse caused stress on guy wires connecting the tower to a nearby tower, which also collapsed, killing firefighter Michael Garrett and injuring another as they tried to rescue the original party.
The tragedy initially results in six separate lawsuits: five against SBA Communications, SBA Towers, SBA Infrastructure, SBA Network Services, FDH Velocitel, FDH Engineering, FDH Innovation and FDH. The sixth was filed by SBA Telecommunications, as successor in interest to SBA Telecommunications and SBA Towers, against S&S Communications Specialists and FDH Engineering.
District Judge Irene Keeley signed an order for consolidation of all six cases onto the same docket. Since all six will establish which party was at fault in the incident, this seems like the wisest move to save time and money in court. One lawsuit against SBA remains separate, filed by True Knowledge Ministries International, which was one of the tenants that had equipment located at the site.
Previously, SBA Communications filed a $1 million property damage lawsuit against S&S Communication Specialists of Oklahoma and FDH Engineering of North Carolina. FDH was the general contractor and S&S was the subcontractor in this situation.
Vertical Bridge’s latest acquisition
Vertical Bridge, the largest private owner and manager of communication towers and locations in the United States with more than 45,000 tower, rooftop, billboard, utility attachment and other site locations, locked in another acquisition this week. The company signed a definitive agreement to acquire 275 sites from General Communication’s wholly owned subsidiary Alaska Wireless Network. The deal also includes providing build-to-suit services to AWN for the next five years, with a total value of the transaction adding up to $91 million.
“We are confident that Vertical Bridge is the right partner to take over management and operations of our portfolio of assets,” said AWN CFOBruce Broquet. “We are taking this opportunity to focus on investing in increased broadband coverage throughout the Alaska market.”
Vertical Bridge is set to be the largest tower owner in Alaska with approximately 300 wireless/broadcast sites. Some of Vertical Bridge’s recent deals include managing wireless sites at 250 real estate investment trust-owned health care facilities and purchasing 43 towers from Townsquare Media.
Regional/local tower news
- Revised plan for Verizon Wireless cell tower approved for Plymouth Church in Belmont, Massachusetts.
- AT&T upgrading High Flat cell tower near Four Corners, Montana.
- Court hearing looms as Auburn, New York, neighbors challenge cell tower construction.
- Council cuts down cell tower fall zone in Ithaca, New York.
- Proposed cell tower on Greenbrier Middle campus causing controversy in Columbia County, Georgia.
- Proposed cell tower could pay for new East Ridge, Tennessee, football stadium.
- Cell tower hearing set in Jurupa Valley, California.
- Danbury, Connecticut, park authority reaches deal for cell tower.
