|
Community Forum · Est. 2006
|
#33
●
02-02-2017, 02:15 AM
|
|
Re: *upd*Vacant Building Being Demolished Collapsed Onto a Store Killing Six People
ALL DEFENDANTS LIABLE IN 2013 PHILLY BUILDING COLLAPSE February 01, 2017 www.constructionequipment.com When the Salvation Army Resale Store on Market Street in Philadelphia collapsed during demolition in June, 2013, 7 people were killed and 13 people were injured. The contractor, Griffin Campbell, and excavator operator Sean Benshop, were found criminally responsible and sentenced to prison but, the building owner and contractor were not charged. Campbell is serving a 15 to 30 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter and other offenses. Sean Benschop , who was operating the machine despite taking Percocet and marijuana for medical problems, was sentenced to 7½ to 15 years in prison for similar crimes. Yesterday, after a lengthy civil trial, a Philadelphia jury found the owner of the building, Richard Basciano, and architect and demolition monitor, Plato A. Marinakos Jr., as well as the Salvation Army, and the two imprisoned defendants guilty of negligent conduct during the planning and execution of the building demolition. Attorneys argued Basciano hired cut-rate workers to demo the Market Street building. The unqualified workers took the four-story building down from the inside out, destabilizing the brick exterior walls. The Salvation Army was faulted for keeping the store open despite warnings about the demolition. The Salvation Army, Basciano and Marinakos all must pay damages. On Friday, the trial enters a second phase in which the jury will determine how much each defendant owes the nineteen plaintiffs. News reports state there was a sum awarded. It has to be determined how much each victim and survivors of decedents will receive. |
|
#35
●
02-08-2017, 04:31 PM
|
|
Re: *upd*Vacant Building Being Demolished Collapsed Onto a Store Killing Six People
$227 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN CENTER CITY COLLAPSE February 8, 2016 PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A $227 million settlement has been reached stemming from the deadly 2013 building collapse in Center City Philadelphia. News of that settlement came Wednesday. The money will be paid to 19 victims, including loved ones of the seven people who died. Lawyers for a number of victims and their families say it's believed to be the largest negotiated settlement in a personal injury case in state court history. Lawyer Robert Mongeluzzi said Wednesday's settlement is, "a powerful deterrent," to businesses that try to cut corners and put lives at risk. Defendants in the case were found liable last week. SEPTA released surveillance video of the June 5, 2013 building collapse in Center City. Two unqualified demolition contractors, Griffin Campbell and his excavator operator, Sean Benschop, are serving long prison terms. But, the building owner and his architect were never charged. The victims had been seeking damages from both men, along with the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army, which lost its store and two of its employees, was found liable because it ignored warnings of danger and a potential collapse by the adjacent four-story building that was being demolished, the jury found. Also found liable was Richard Basciano, the 91-year-old New York real estate mogul, who owned the building undergoing demolition. He hired a cheap, inexperienced contractors to do the demolition. Philadelphia architect Plato Marinakos, Jr., was hired by Basciano to monitor demolition and do it on the cheap. Marinakos was found to have known the building was near collapse, but, told no one. And remember, folks, no amount of money can bring back the dead! Yet! ;) |