Designer Of Doomed Mpls. Bridge Seeks Legal Waiver

The victim lawsuits don't name Jacobs, but defendants PCI and URS say the company shouldn't go unscathed.

URS attorney Jocelyn Knoll offered a competing interpretation of Minnesota law on the window for suing.

"But for Jacobs negligence in underdesigning that bridge, we wouldn't be here," Knoll said.

She told the judge earlier in the two-hour hearing, that "Jacobs seeks to escape all liability and make URS and PCI pay for Jacobs' mistakes."

URS is the consulting firm hired by the transportation department to evaluate the bridge before it failed. PCI is targeted because it was resurfacing the bridge and had heavy equipment and materials staged above vulnerable gussets when the span crumbled into the Mississippi River.

The sides will be back in court Aug. 10 when Jacobs and PCI will argue for dismissal of state claims against them.

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Brian Bakst can be reached at bbakst(at)ap.org