Is the end near?

In fits and starts, after 13 weeks of testimony, it appears that the Philadelphia civil trial of lawsuits from the deadly 2013 Center City building collapse may soon go to the jury.

On Thursday, the final day of testimony last week – a juror had a personal commitment Friday – Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina questioned lawyers about the amount of testimony left and suggested that their closing arguments could be done on Jan. 23 and 24. With another day set aside for Sarmina's "charge," or instructions in the law relevant to the case, the question of which defendant, if any, should be held liable for the collapse that killed six and 13 injured could be in the jurors' hands by late next week.

That, of course, is a dicey prediction to make, considering that the trial, which began Sept. 19, is on its third extension. Sarmina originally said [hoped?] the trial would be over by Oct. 27 and then Dec. 14. Her most recent order gives an "expected conclusion" on Feb. 3.

Then, Monday's trial session was canceled after the death of a family member of a defense lawyer. Testimony is expected to resume Tuesday.

When it does, lawyers for the Salvation Army have said they will call their final two witnesses. Then, lawyers for three other defendants will get the opportunity to present their evidence.

Thus far, the jury of seven men and five women has heard a total of 47 days of testimony: 24 witnesses from the plaintiffs; 9 defense witnesses for New York real estate speculator Richard Basciano and his STB Investments Corp., which owned the demolition site that collapsed and crushed the Salvation Army thrift store at 22^nd and Market Streets; and 11 for the Salvation Army.

Still to come: defense witnesses for Center City architect Plato A. Marinakos Jr., STB's architect monitoring the demolition; North Philadelphia demolition contractor Griffin Campbell; Sean Benschop, the excavator operator Campbell hired to demolish the four-story Hoagie City building; and Jack Higgins, an architect from Northeastern Pennsylvania the Salvation Army hired before the collapse to inspect the thrift store for possible demolition-related damage.

Only Benschop is not expected to present a defense. Benschop pleaded guilty to six counts of involuntary manslaughter and related charges in the collapse and is serving 7-1/2 to 15 years in prison. Campbell was convicted of the same charges at trial in 2015 and sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison. Although defendants in the civil trial, both are considered penniless.

Since the civil trial began, the three main defendants – Basciano and STB, the Salvation Army and Marinakos – have blamed each other for the June 5, 2013 collapse.

Basciano and STB have contended that Marinakos was negligent in recommending an incompetent demolition contractor and for not advising STB of the potential for the collapse of an unsupported three- to four-story wall on the demolition site. It was that wall that toppled and destroyed the thrift store. The Salvation Army, being sued for purportedly not telling its store workers and customers of the imminent danger from the demolition next door, contends that Basciano and STB were solely responsible for demolishing their building without endangering neighboring properties and public safety.

If the jury finds any of the defendants liable for the collapse, it would begin hearing testimony to determine the amount of damages to award the plaintiffs.