Hearing of Maxima store collapse case gets under way in Riga

The hearing of the case of a deadly collapse of a Maxima supermarket got under way here on Tuesday, with victims seeking 155 million euros in total damages.

The sitting of the Riga Zemgale District Court took place at the Kipsala exhibition center to accommodate all the people who had turned up for first hearing of the case in which a panel of four judges is expected to figure out who are to be blamed for the collapse of the supermarket building in Riga's Zolitude neighborhood in November 2013.

The judges decided not to split the lawsuit into several separate cases, arguing that this will not harm anyone's interests and will ensure speedier proceedings.

The court hearing was then adjourned to March 1, 2016.

Charges in the Maxima store collapse case have been brought against nine individuals, 263 persons feature as victims and 144 as witnesses, the materials of which have been compiled in 80 volumes.

It is thought that it might take years to finish hearing the high-profile case.

As many as 54 people lost their lives and scores of others were injured when the roof of a Maxima supermarket in Riga caved in on Nov. 21, 2013.

A criminal investigation was started into the deadly accident which is thought to be caused by several factors, including errors in construction designs, neglect on the part of the builders or the supermarket's operator.

The shopping center housing the Maxima store was developed by Homburg and built by Re&Re construction firm, while the design project was worked out by Kubs architecture bureau. Enditem