On Sunday, July 27, 2025, the Family Dollar in Midtown, Kansas City, partially collapsed. First responders arrived shortly after and ultimately reported one fatality and three serious injuries caused by the structural failure; two of the injured have already been released from medical care. Mike Hopkins, the Kansas City Fire Department Battalion Chief, confirmed that all injuries were suffered by people who were outside of the structure, which appears to have mostly collapsed outward, based on photographs of the scene.
The Kansas City Police Department will take over the investigation from now on due to the presence of a fatality. It is not known at this time what exactly caused the abrupt roof collapse. Although a person who has not been publicly identified shared a photograph with investigators that showed the corner of the roof sagging noticeably before it collapsed. The photograph could be strong evidence that Family Dollar knew or reasonably should have known that the building posed a collapse risk, but did not close it to the public or take appropriate steps to address it.
Will Dollar Tree Face Legal Action?
Until the investigation into the collapse is complete, it is difficult to speculate what legal action Dollar Tree could face from the affected parties. However, it is likely that some sort of legal action will be justified, as is commonly the case following the collapse of any commercial structure. The photographic evidence of the roof’s damage prior to the collapse could act as a catalyst for legal action, too.
In structural collapse cases, injured parties often seek compensation for:
- Medical costs and future treatments
- Wages missed while recovering
- Pain and suffering
- Costs related to the death of a loved one
Call Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman With Any Legal Questions
Do you have any questions about what legal actions you can take after your family is injured in a commercial property collapse, like the partial collapse of the Kansas City Family Dollar on Broadway Boulevard? Call (816) 542-5999 to connect with Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman and our premises liability attorneys. For decades, we have worked on complicated and newsworthy premises liability and structural collapse lawsuits, including the tragic 1981 Hyatt Regency Hotel walkway collapse that shocked the nation and ended in a nine-figure total award for the victims and their families. You can rely on us to answer your questions and act as your legal guides.
Think you have a structural collapse lawsuit to file in Kansas City? Begin now by filling out an online contact form.