WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderDoomed Law Office Demolished

A building that was hit by a trolley over a year ago finally comes down today. In December of 2010 a law office fell off its foundation when a Bay Town Trolley smashed into the side.

Now both parties are a bit closer to an agreement.  They'll soon enter mediation. But a few things need to happen before this case can end.

Wednesday morning what's now a bad memory for a Panama City attorney crashes to the ground. "It's bittersweet but it was great to see progress."

The building has been empty since a Bay Town Trolley crashed into the structure in December 2010. "It's done and if we're going to rebuild, it's got to happen," says Bill Price, the lawyer who owns the doomed structure.

The process to get what used to be this law office torn down has been a long one. After a county building inspector came out to deem the property unsafe and unfit, the city put a lien on the property. After a long appeals process, the city got permission to get the building torn down.

But before Price can rebuild, the suit against the trolley company needs to be completed.

"We've been asking for pictures or video evidence for over a year now."

During disclosure, the trolley company's lawyer turned over surveillance video from inside the trolley. The video shows the driver texting on a cell phone and not wearing a seatbelt. When a hard turn hurls the driver off her seat the trolley crashes into the law office.

Trolley officials aren't proud of what the video reveals. "We were aware of the video. It was part of our investigation." But the operations manager, Gene Keen, was shocked to see price hand the video over to the media. "We were extremely surprised. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense in the middle of a process like this for this kind of information to come out."

Price says the trolley's insurance company should pay, but according to Keen, trolley lawyers say they don't have proof of loss. "We are seeking mediation on this issue and the court has ordered it. Unfortunately we've sought the proper documentation to establish the losses over the last year and have failed to receive it from the opposing side."

Price says he does plan to provide the proof in detail so the mediation can commence.

Price has been paid around six thousand dollars so far by his own insurance company. He used those funds to cover legal fees.