Next Step in Elevator Death Case: Suing Correct Owners of Building
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We wrote a few stories last week about the $30 million suit filed in the aftermath of Dr. Dan Kliman's bizarre 2008 death in a downtown San Francisco elevator shaft. It's an unusual case -- and it was rendered all the more unusual when attorney Ian Zimmerman filed suit against the wrong people.
He initially sued Elisa and Scott Stephens, scions of the Academy of Art Empire -- hey, lots of people do. The problem was, Kliman's death occurred in the Sharon Building at 55 New Montgomery. And while the Stephenses and Academy own scores of city buildings -- they don't own that one. That structure is actually owned by the Bernheim family and is in the family's trust.
Brad Bernheim told SF Weekly on Friday afternoon that he has not yet received any indication that his family will be sued, though they are meeting with lawyers. Meanwhile, Zimmerman said it's just a matter of time before he sues Robert Bernheim and Nancy Bernheim Rogers, who are listed as the building's owners with the city assessor.
They, for the record, definitely own the building.
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