Company to face manslaughter charge in Big Dig death
By adamg - Wed, 08/08/2007 - 3:15pm.
The state Attorney General's office reports that Powers Fasteners of Brewster, NY, has been indicted on one count of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Milena del Valle's death from falling tunnel ceiling panels last summer.
Powers made the glue that was supposed to help hold the 3,000-pound panels in place.
In a statement last month, the company said it was being scapegoated by investigators, because it only supplied $1,287 worth of glue for the $15-billion project and because it had no control whatsoever over how the glue was used, such as the decision to use what officials now say was the wrong kind of glue.
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I wonder?
Will they get the charges to stick?
All puns aside...
I doubt it. My guess is they're going after the out-of-towners first, those persons or companies with no political or financial ties to any Bay State pol's campaign coffers.
From what I've read and heard, this is nothing more than the latest game of blame deflection. I don't think they have a case, though I don't have all the details. But if I were in Vegas I'd put my money down on the epoxy guys.
From WBZ:
Jeffrey Denner, an attorney for Angel Del Valle, said he thinks the grand jury would continue to consider criminal charges against others involved but that it was appropriate to charge Powers.
"They are certainly as culpable as it gets. They are the people who supplied the epoxy," he said.
Just like we should be suing car makers for deaths caused by excessive speed on the highway. I mean, they are certainly as culpable as it gets. They are the people who supplied the cars with speedometers reading up to 100 mph or more.
Some crackhead shot a liquor store owner with a stolen .38? Sue Smith & Wesson. They are certainly as culpable as it gets. They are the people who supplied the handgun.
Is your 12-year-old suffering ill health due to his obesity brought on by your feeding him Burger King food seven days a week? Sue Burger King. They are certainly as culpable as it gets. They are the people who supplied the fatty food.
Blame ________. It's the Massachusetts way.
It's ALL about money. Compassion and justice for grieving relatives come in a distant second.
Powers won't be hurt monetarily
Even if they lose the case - the maximum fine is $1,000.
$1,000 fine
I'm reminded of a Dr. Seuss parody in Mad a few decades ago, on a somewhat similar subject:
But I'll be punished, I can tell.
A hundred bucks they'll fine me well.
A second's income shot to hell!
Allowing for inflation, that's about right.
It goes way beyond that
The $1,000 fine would be the proverbial tip of the iceberg.
Legal fees well into six figures, if not beyond that.
Do you think they'll ever get their product specified for use on any public works jobs with a manslaughter conviction on their record?
Plus, a guilty verdict in a criminal trial would open the floodgates for a massive civil suit.
Again, astronomical legal fees.
And even higher monetary settlement/judgment.
They will likely be financially crippled to the point of non-existence.
I'll have a longer post later explaining why I think these charges are total bullshit.
Based on what I know...
It looks like the state is going into full-scale CYA mode.
Depending on the date on which certain decisions were made and work authorization papers were signed off, my money's on the MTA (or then Mass Highway Department), being the most at fault here.
Coakley's gotta protect her fellow hacks though.
Your tax dollars hard at work.