A Florida judge has ordered the owners of a collapsed home on Gulf Drive to pay $1,000 per day until they demolish the structure. The house at 5101 Gulf Drive D has remained standing since it collapsed in January 2024, despite several court orders and deadline extensions.
The timeline provided by the court shows that demolition was first ordered on June 13, 2024, with a 60-day window for completion. Subsequent extensions pushed the deadline to September 2, then December 13, and additional orders in February and May 2025 required proof of contractor bids and demolition efforts. As of an August 15, 2025 hearing, no contract for demolition had been signed.
In the latest order, the court found property owners James Sturgeon and Yik Chun Wu in civil contempt. The order imposes daily fines for failing to meet specific milestones: signing a demolition contract by August 27, obtaining permits by September 12, and completing demolition by October 31.
Neighbors have expressed concern that the tilted house poses ongoing risks to nearby properties. Plaintiffs are represented by Rebecca Gilliland of Beasley Allen and Alexis Mays of Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon. According to their legal team: "Our clients deserve a resolution that puts their safety first and restores their properties to the way they were before the damage. We’re committed to using every legal option available to make sure they get the compensation and justice they’re owed."
The court noted that contractors are available for the work and stated that plaintiffs may seek reimbursement for legal fees incurred during this process.
If deadlines are missed, fines could accumulate into tens of thousands of dollars while still requiring demolition of the property.