You may remember that in 2008, a crane collapsed in New York City, killing seven people.
As an experienced construction accident attorney, I’ve been closely following this case. I believe you may be interested in the fate of Edward J. Marquette, the city employee who falsified the crane inspection report.
A recent article from The New York Times discusses the verdict and implications of the case.
Marquette was arrested almost five years ago, accused of fabricating an inspection of the towering crane. More charges involving other falsified crane inspections were later added. Marquette was convicted of nearly all the charges this year.
Edward Marquette clearly put lives at risk, but the situation is somewhat more complicated than that. Despite the clear ethical and safety violations, his actions seemed to be “condoned” by his superiors.
In addition, Marquette had a problematic history with alcohol that is now seemingly under control.
The judge eventually sentenced him to five years of probation and no prison time, with the understanding that he must remain sober.
The building records of the tower crane that collapsed on March 15, 2008 show that Marquette had inspected the crane 11 days prior. The collapse killed six construction workers and a women visiting from Florida.
As this case shows, mishaps and negligence on the construction site can be fatal or cause devastating injuries. Every inspection and plan must be executed with precision and thoroughness. I have helped many people injured in construction accidents, and it’s sad to think that many, if not all, of these accidents could have been prevented.
If you are ever in the unfortunate case of being injured in a construction accident, or are a construction worker that wants to know more about your personal injury rights, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.