Suit: Fatal fall at Ala Moana Center could have been prevented

OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The families of two men who fell several stories at Ala Moana Center in 2016 after the railing they were leaning against collapsed are now suing the mall's property owner for ignoring concerns they say could have prevented the incident.

In October 2016, Nicholas Freitas died when the railing he was leaning on collapsed on the third level of the center's mauka wing, causing him to fall several stories along with his best friend Macroy Nagato Junior.

Nagato survived, but suffered severe brain damage and paralysis.

The families' attorney says General Growth Properties, the owner of Ala Moana Center, ignored contractors' concerns about the rusted railings for years.

"Our investigation concluded that general growth never did anything regarding this," said Rick Fried, the attorney for the families. "No physical evidence at all of any repairs have been performed on the falling railing at any time since it was constructed back in 1966."

Fried says Nagato is still learning to speak and read again, and with round-the-clock care required — his medical bills have cost around 1.5 million dollars.

General Growth has not yet commented on the suit.

But the property did undergo a structural evaluation and repairs after the incident.

This story may be updated.

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