New York Injury Talk Blog

Woman Dies in Collision with Fire Truck

2008-04-25T20:09:09Z

In a tragic example of the dangers of our city’s highways, a 27-year old Queens woman was killed in a NY Auto Accident on Saturday, April 19th when the car she was driving and a fire engine collided at an intersection in South Jamaica, according to an article published in the New York Times.

The accident took place during daylight hours, at approximately 9:45a.m. and the woman was driving a 1995 Nissan southbound on 155th St. The fire engine was traveling westbound on 111th Ave. with its lights and sirens on as it responded to a fire, according to police. Five firefighters were taken to the hospital after the collision with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Every New York Car Accident has unique circumstances. In this instance, the parties involved in the crash add to the prospects of possible liability. The questions an attorney asks in instances where a municipal vehicle is involved in an accident differ from those they would ask if it were two civilian autos that were involved. Only an experienced NY Auto Accident attorney, like the ones at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro have the experience to analyze the facts of the accident and ask the proper questions about cause and liability.

]]> Our firm has extensive experience in handling all types of New York motor vehicle accidents. We promptly and thoroughly investigate each case to assess liability and determine fault. We work with experienced investigators to obtain photographs, witness statements and other necessary investigation. Our attorneys have an excellent understanding of the intricacies of New York's No-Fault Law as well as Underinsurance and Uninsured Motorist Coverage issues. Regardless of who was at fault in the accident, victims should seek the counsel of an experienced New York Auto Accident Attorney or New York Car Accident Lawyer to protect your legal rights. Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost, and witnesses may become hard to find.

If you have been seriously injured in an auto accident in New York, Call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro – New York Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers today for your free consultation.

NY City Building Chief Resigns Following Rash of Construction Accidents

2008-04-22T20:04:40Z

In a natural escalation of the recent spike in fatal NY construction accidents and administrative miscues, Patricia J. Lancaster, New York City’s first female building commissioner, resigned on Tuesday, April 22nd. She becomes the first commissioner to leave the Bloomberg administration under a cloud of public controversy. The move comes as Lancaster faced escalating pressure from City Hall and growing criticism from the media and public at large after a series of administrative blunders.

The proverbial “final straw” may have come after an appearance at a City Council hearing when she admitted that the department had mistakenly issued permits for the East Side building where a crane collapsed last month, killing seven people and injuring 24 others. According to the article, Ms. Lancaster’s performance before the council “not only cast unwanted light on her department’s bureaucratic failings” and the recent rash of construction accidents, but “also drew attention to her awkward public manner and unclear explanations that diminished her credibility”.

]]> The lack of confidence in the city’s construction safety standards is not unwarranted. There have been numerous crane and construction accidents in the recent past and the death toll that results from these devastating events continues to escalate.

Construction is the third deadliest industry in the United States, and the causes of construction accident deaths and injuries vary widely. These can include forklift injuries, scaffolding or electrocution accidents, falls, toxic fume inhalation or carbon monoxide poisoning, head injuries from falling objects, and even motor vehicle crashes that lead to death and injury. Though the circumstances of each construction accident death vary, more often than not responsibility lies with the employer, contractor, architect, site owner, or a combination of parties.

Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro is committed to upholding the rights of laborers and construction workers who, in order to support their families, have been subjected to unsafe and negligent working environments. If you or someone you love has been injured in a New York Construction Accident, contact the NY Construction Accident Attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro today for a free consultation of your case.

2 FIREFIGHTERS KILLED AND MORE HURT IN SEPARATE CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS AT THE DEUTSCH BANK BUILDING

2008-04-18T19:05:05Z

It has been one thing after another since the Deutsch Bank Building was severely damaged and contaminated after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001. The New York Times reports that the troubled building has passed through a few owners and, most recently, last August 18th two firefighters were killed and two others hurt while fighting a blaze in the building. Just this week a family member of one of the dead firefighters filed suit against a government agency the sister claims created the dangerous conditions at the construction site that caused her brother’s death. Robert Beddia, 53 died as a result of toxic smoke created by the fire. Apparently, the fire was a result of a discarded cigarette on the 17th floor, and while an investigation is ongoing there are serious questions about a malfunctioning standpipe that made it impossible to bring water up above the fifth floor. The second firefighter, Joseph Graffagnino, 33, died as a direct result of the broken standpipe in the basement because it could not deliver water to the fire.

At a news conference last August, Mayor Michael Bloomberg indicated that three senior
fire officials had been relieved of their command as the investigation into the fatal fire continues. Mayor Bloomberg further commented that the local firehouse had conducted none of the required inspections of the bank building since 2006, even though it was on the edge of ground zero.

]]> Less than a week after the two deaths at the Deutsch Bank Building, two firefighters were injured when a piece of construction equipment fell from the scaffolding of the partially demolished building. Ironically, when the equipment fell, workers were clearing debris and broken glass from the fire that had occurred less than a week before that killed the two firefighters on the 26th floor of the bank building. It appears, according to officials, that it was a jack or a drill that fell-hitting a shed that housed the two firefighters.

If you, a friend, or a family member, have been injured in a NY Construction Accident or if you’re a construction worker that was injured on the job through the negligence of your employer, please call the law offices of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP today for a free consultation.

Two Killed in Crane Accident – This Time in Miami

2008-04-14T19:44:20Z

Proof positive that the dangerous nature of crane accidents are not reserved for New York alone, a seven-ton section of crane fell 30 stories in Miami recently, killing two workers and injuring 5 others. Fire and rescue officials said the collapse occurred about 1:45pm as a construction crew tried to lengthen the crane for work on a 46-story luxury high-rise overlooking Biscayne Bay. The 20 foot section dangled before dropping through the roof of the home contractors used as an office.

This crane collapse may appear eerily similar to the collapse that occurred in New York, but upon closer inspection, there are some major differences. While the cause of the collapse had not been determined, the circumstances in New York were unique, where a six-ton steel collar meant to help hold the crane in place broke free and plummeted from 18 stories high, leading the entire crane to detach from the building and fall toward the ground, with one section landing on a town house. In the Miami instance, a large 20-foot section of the crane itself weighing seven tons fell through the Spanish style home in Miami.

]]> Many crane related accidents involve mobile cranes, and many "non-crane" workers have also suffered serious injuries. These non-crane operators include mechanics, oil workers, ironworkers, rigger, and stevedores.

Our construction litigation department has been handling complex construction accident cases for years and has a vast degree of knowledge about New York State Labor Law and the Industrial Code.

We only represent individuals who are injured by negligence; through the malpractice of doctors or hospitals; injured in workplace accidents or by faulty products, equipment or machinery; injured in automobile accidents; or through the negligent maintenance of property. The firm has achieved great success in these specialties which are all bound together by a common thread: an individual has suffered serious physical or emotional injury.

ESCALATOR INJURIES FOR OLDER ADULTS ON THE RISE

2008-04-11T18:42:35Z

The New York Times cites a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that while older women suffer more injuries on escalators than older men, it seems that 85% of all escalator injuries result from a NY slip or a fall.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s report is based on data collected and analyzed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which was published in the March issue of the Accident Analysis and Prevention journal.

Dr. Joseph O’Neil, an associate professor of pediatrics at Indiana University, indicated he had no idea why accident rates on escalators for both men and women had doubled from 1991 to 2005. The report shows that nearly 40,000 people over 65 were injured while riding an escalator-an average of 2,660 per year. Dr. Neil further commented that normally riding an escalator is not seen as a dangerous thing to do but that older adults ‘need to use caution’.

According to WebMD, there are several things older adults can do to prevent slip & falls:

1. Exercise regularly to improve muscle strength, tone and sense of balance.
2. If you have any problems with dizziness call your doctor to check to see if you have an inner ear infection.
3. Have your vision and hearing checked on a regular basis.
4. Know all the side effects of your medication and how they might affect your balance.

]]> WebMD also reports that fatal falls in older adults are also on the rise. According to a Nov. 17, 2006 report, falls were the top cause of accidental deaths in people age 65 and older, and fatal fall rates are rising, says the report. The CDC reports that 13,700 people age 65 and older died of fall-related injuries in 2003.

Most stores with more than one story have elevators. When in doubt use one of those and avoid the escalator.

If you, or a family member have been injured as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition, or while riding an escalator, please call the NY slip and fall attorneys Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, L.L.P at 212-986-7353. They would like to set up an appointment to discuss your case.

EARLY TEENS - A DEADLY TIME FOR CAR CRASH FATALITIES

2008-04-09T18:37:07Z

According to a study performed by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and reported in the New York Times, car-related fatalities among youth go up at age 12 and continue to increase for several years. The researchers, led by Dr. Flaura Koplin Winston, based the data after a review of more than 45,000 crashes over a 6-year period in all 50 states.

Researchers pointed to several possible reasons for the increase in youthful auto accident fatalities. One possible theory is that the children were more likely to be riding in cars with young drivers at the wheel. Failure to wear seat belts was another factor. The study indicated that passengers in cars that were driven by a 16-17 year old were at a substantial increased risk of death.

Young drivers are more easily distracted with passengers in the car. In fact, in a recent survey performed by the University of California, more than 1/3 of teenage drivers surveyed admitted they had been distracted when young passengers were in the car. The drivers surveyed cited talking, yelling, and arguing as distracting them while driving.

]]> Studies have shown that there is a higher risk of crashing when teenage drivers carry teen passengers. Reviews of 16 and 17 year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes, where no adult was in the car, indicated that more than half carried a passenger less than 20 years of age. In fact, the study indicated that young drivers who carried two or more teen passengers experienced higher risks for a car crash. In 2000, 63 percent of the deaths of 13- to 19-year-old passengers occurred when other teenagers were driving.

Obtaining a driver’s license and operating a motor vehicle has become a rite of passage in this country. As our children continue to take to the streets in record numbers, it is important that we arm them with all the tools they need to remain safe on our busy highways. NY Auto Accidents, however, can still occur, and the results can often be devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash through the negligence of others, please call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP for a personal consultation.

7 DIE IN CRANE ACCIDENT AFTER FALSE REPORT FILED

2008-04-04T18:22:54Z

According to the New York Times, building officials believe it was highly unlikely that a missed inspection resulted in the deaths of 7 people on March 15th, however, Edward J. Marquette, 46, was arrested anyway after he faked a report indicating that he inspected a construction crane on the East Side of Manhattan on March 4th, just 11 days before the crane collapsed killing 7 people. The deaths occurred when workers were ‘jumping’ the crane, which is the process used to add sections to the tower, making it taller.

Officials believe that the accident occurred when a 6 ton steel collar, being fitted around the crane’s tower, as a part of the bracing operation, broke free-plummeting 18 stories, and shearing off braces in place on the 9th floor. An investigation is ongoing, and in addition to the crane falling two nylon slings that had been holding a collar in place high on the crane also broke.

Patricia Lancaster, New York Buildings Commissioner commented that every crane supposedly inspected by Marquette over the last six months would be re-inspected. Further, the New York Investigations Department will be performing a full review of the Buildings Department’s cranes and derricks division.

]]> Rose Gill Hearn, of the Investigation Department, indicated that Marquette never went to the building site to inspect, but he wrote in a work log that he had been there. Mr. Marquette, who has worked as a crane inspector since October 2001, and making $52,283 a year, was arrested for falsifying business records.

The New York Buildings Department has suffered through corruption scandals in the past, including bribery of inspectors. However, Hearn said at this time there is no indication that anyone involved in the NY construction project was involved with the allegedly false report by Marquette.

Construction accidents are almost always catastrophically devastating events. As our New York skyline continues to grow with immense structures, the number of construction sites continues to grow, almost exponentially. Thousands of tons of steel and concrete are used to erect our cities skyscrapers and it is of the utmost importance that the agents trusted with the safety and security of these job sites does their job properly, or the result, as in this matter, can be tragic. If you, a friend or family member has been injured through the negligence of your employer or if you’ve been in an NY Construction Accident, please call New York Construction Accident Attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER DIES AFTER BEING ELECTROCUTED AT CON EDISON SITE

2008-03-31T00:58:25Z

An investigation is ongoing after forty-four year-old John Rodriguez, a contract worker, died last month after being electrocuted while installing electrical cables at a Consolidated Edison power station in Queens. Rodriquez suffered a heart attack after the New York Construction Accident when he touched a highly charged cable, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, where he was pronounced dead. Mr. Rodriquez came into contact with a live wire while attempting to disconnect a ground wire from what turned out to be a live wire. Essentially, Mr. Rodriquez became the electrical conduit when he touched the live wire.

Bob McGee, a Con Edison spokesman, declined to make a comment regarding what precautions might have been taken to avoid Rodriquez’s death. Apparently, however, Con Edison has been under some scrutiny for safety and maintenance problems because of previous deaths.

]]> In 2004, a Columbia University graduate was electrocuted while walking her dog, when she stepped onto a metal plate in the East Village. Last July 18th, one woman died from a heart attack and two people suffered severe burns when a Con Edison steam pipe exploded in Midtown Manhattan-creating chaos during evening rush hour. Then, last November a Con Edison gas main caused an explosion killing a 69 year-old woman in Sunnyside, Queens.

Rodriquez worked for CKR Construction and had been a part of the Queens work project to dig and install new cable at Con Edison for approximately 6 weeks before his death.

The lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP are New York personal injury experts. For example, after several weeks of trial Phil Russotti of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP obtained a verdict in excess of $18 million dollars on behalf of a 42 year old construction laborer and his wife.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a NY work related accident, please call us for a free consultation of your case. Our experienced attorneys can help insure that you receive the best possible representation, insuring the best possible result for your case.

TRAIN UNCOUPLES - STUNNING RIDERS

2008-03-27T00:46:57Z

According to the New York Times, an eight-car East-bound train uncoupled, stunning riders, during evening rush hour earlier this month. The incident, confirmed by Dan Stessel, a spokesman for the New Jersey Transit was confirmed as having happened on February 22nd, and has drawn criticism from the conductor’s union. There were more than 600 shaken passengers on the train at the time of the uncoupling, and it took an hour for workers to reattach the cars. According to the Times, the train was moving approximately five miles an hour when steel couplers which connected the second and third cars separated, leaving them several feet from one another and a potential new york train accident risk. The brakes were immediately activated, and no injuries were reported.

Couplers resemble two hands palm to palm and it appears a piece of debris hit those coupled hands with enough force to cause them to separate, although the actual debris was not identified.

The New Jersey Transit authorities instructed the crew to divert all passengers to the next stop-Newark Liberty International Airport.

According to Patrick F. Reilly, the general chairman of the United Transportation Union, which represents the 1,100 conductors who work for New Jersey Transit, the decision to restart the train with passengers still aboard, was a bad one. Reilly commented that all passengers should have immediately been removed from the train and the train taken out-of-service. Passenger Rick Smith, a 37-year-old graphics designer said, “We were just praying that we got to the next stop in one piece, without the train coming apart again.”

]]> Dan Stessel, a spokesman for the New Jersey Transit indicated that the train was traveling at a very low speed and that having cars separate, causing an NY Train Accident is a ‘very rare occurrence’.

According to a story published in the New York Times this February, a Rutgers’ University report said public transportation is an efficient use of funds. The New Jersey Transit received $702.5 million in direct state support in fiscal 2005, equal to about $2.88 a trip, or less than the price of a gallon of gas, for each light rail, train or bus passenger a year.

New Jersey was behind only New York in mass transportation use, and residents in New York and Maryland had longer commutes than those in New Jersey, the study said.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York subway train accident, call the offices of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP today for a free consultation.

WINDOW WASHER SURVIVES 47 FOOT FALL FROM SCAFFOLDING

2008-03-24T00:37:42Z

Dr. Philip Barie, the chief of the division of critical care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan was quoted in the New York Times as saying, “If you believe in miracles, this is one.”. Dr. Barie went on to explain, “We’re talking about tiny, tiny percentages, well under 1 percent, of people who fall that distance and survive. Above 10 stories, most of the time we never see the patients because they usually go to the morgue” Dr. Barie’s quotes refer to the surprising recovery and ongoing recuperation of Alcides Moreno, a window washer who, along with his brother, plunged 47 stories from an Upper East Side apartment building last December. The fall, which killed Alcides’ brother, Edgar, happened when the scaffold on which they were standing while working as window washers gave way, plunging both men 47 stories to certain death. Three agencies continue to investigate the work related accident.

After more than sixteen operations; twenty-four pints of blood and nineteen pints of plasma, Alcides’ surgeon, Dr. John Boockvar, an assistant professor of neurological surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University indicated that Alcides is doing remarkably well after his latest operation to stabilize Alcides’ spinal column. This latest surgery on Alcides’ spine is meant to reduce the risk of neurological injury when Alcides again begins to walk and move about. After the fall, Alcides suffered serious injuries to his brain, his chest and his abdomen, as well as several fractured ribs, a broken arm, and two broken legs. But, amazingly, after falling 47 stories, Alcides spinal cord was intact and showed no signs of injury.

]]> Alcides spoke for the first time on Christmas day, and he thanked the fifteen doctors, nurses and specialists who have been working with him before heading to a rehabilitation center, but his rehabilitation will be long and challenging.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York scaffolding accident call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP today for a free consultation of your case. Our experienced attorneys can help insure the best possible result for your case.

Clifford Shapiro, of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP recently obtained a $5,000,000.00 settlement for the family of a construction worker who was killed while working in a trench at a construction site on Staten Island.

HIT AND RUN DRIVER KILLS ONE-CAUGHT BY NEW YORK HEROS

2008-03-21T00:31:38Z

In a story reported in the New York Times, Nuevo Estilo, a barber, was an unlikely hero last December when he chased down a hit and run driver of a minivan, who plowed down a man and kept going. Witnesses said the victim, 73 year-old Francisco Guerrero, was carrying several bags of groceries and was walking home when they saw the minivan hit him.

Estilo was working in a barber shop on Fourth Avenue at 52nd street when he saw the blue minivan hit the man. As Estilo chased the minivan a delivery driver followed. The Dodge Caravan minivan went on to ram into a parked car and proceeded, finally coming to a stop near 50th Street and Third Avenue - where he got out of the minivan and started running down the street. After a short chase, the hit and run driver was eventually captured by Estilo and the delivery truck driver. Police arrested the man, Lawrence Meyers, 38, and took him into custody after he was driven back to the scene by the delivery driver.

]]> Other reports in the New York Times indicate that hit and run accidents are a frequent occurrence in the City. Last April, a 73-year-old Brooklyn woman returning home from a Passover Seder was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver as she walked with her husband across a street. Reyzya Ratsa Burman, was crossing a dangerous stretch of Ninth Avenue on her way to her apartment when she was hit and killed by a 1997 to 2002 gold Buick sedan. Her daughter had just dropped her mother off when the hit and run took place. Mrs. Burman’s husband, Maurichiu, 73, was also hit, but he was in stable condition after being struck by the Buick.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit and run accident, please call the NY auto accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP. We are your personal injury and wrongful death experts.

Seven Dead After Devastating Crane Collapse in Manhattan

2008-03-17T21:18:35Z

At least seven people were killed when a large crane collapsed Saturday afternoon at a construction site on Manhattan's East Side. The crane toppled across the street and damaged three buildings, destroying a fourth. Twenty-four were reportedly injured following the devastating NY crane accident which occurred at 303 East 51st Street, near Second Avenue, at about 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. Ten people remained hospitalized, but the three critically injured victims were upgraded to serious condition.

Investigators said the collapse began Saturday afternoon as crews were "jumping" the crane - installing new sections on the 200-foot main tower to keep pace with what is to be a 43-story building. A six ton steel collar being fitted around the tower at the 18th floor somehow came loose and crashed down onto another collar on the ninth floor - snapping it loose from three 12-inch-wide steel beams that held it to the building. The three support beams were sheared off and with no supports remaining above the third floor, the 164-ton crane buckled to the south and snapped atop a building – sending a 75-foot section skidding over rooftops until the new york construction accident destroyed the four-story townhouse where two of the victims were standing in a kitchen.

]]> If you have read this blog for any amount of time, or any New York newspaper for that matter, you know that construction accidents in our fair city are an all too common occurrence. On any given day, more then 250 cranes dot our city skyline as new massive buildings are erected, seemingly on a daily basis. It is no wonder that so many injuries occur because of crane accidents. Every year, in fact, many crane operators are killed or seriously injured on the job. This occurs even though many state and federal regulations, as well as industry standards, require owners, general contractors and sub-contractors to implement a wide variety of safety measures.

Our construction litigation department has been handling complex construction accident cases for years and has a vast degree of knowledge about New York State Labor Law and the Industrial Code. Our experience in dealing with new york crane accidents like the tragedy that occurred in New York over the weekend gives us an advantage over other personal injury attorneys. We only represent individuals who are injured by negligence; and our firm has achieved great success in representing individuals injured in New York construction accidents.

See examples of our New York Construction Accident Verdicts & Settlements

If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident contact the New York Crane Accident Attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro today for a free consultation.

Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro Retained in Construction Worker Death Case

2008-03-14T20:56:55Z

The law offices of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro have been retained by the family of Luoro Ortega, a construction worker who was crushed to death on Wednesday, March 12th at a Brooklyn work site.

According to an article in the Daily News, Mr. Ortega, 30, of Queens was literally buried alive in the NY construction accident when an excavation caused a wall to collapse on him. William Lattarulo, 62, is owner of both the house whose wall collapsed and the lot next door where construction was occurring when the construction accident occurred. Mr. Lattarulo was cited for violating multiple building codes, including working with an expired building permit, when he hired Ortega and others to excavate under the existing home in preparation for the building of a commercial property next door.

Luttarulo’s engineer, Lewis Sanchez of Sanchez Associates had lost the privilege to perform engineering jobs in the city of New York a week earlier, due to ‘questionable practices’. Sanchez had also been previously penalized when the special enforcement team of the Buildings Department found that he was allowing his business partner to use his professional stamp to submit building applications. His partner surrendered his privileges in 2002.

]]> The existing structure was home to six tenants who were left shaken when a wall collapsed as a result of the unstable conditions created by the excavation. Michael Delairo, 36 years old, and one of the six tenants said both he and other tenants had complained to Lattarulo, remarking that the home seemed ‘unstable’, indicating that Lattarulo didn’t seem to care, according to the News story. Delairo and the other tenants watched daily as two workers went under the foundation of their rental home taking out piles of dirt at a time. Another tenant, Joan Fresse, 44, frantically ran to get her mother out of the house when she heard the wall collapsing, but the front door would not open. Fresse describes being ‘terrified’ following the new york construction accidents.

Lattarulo blames recent rain for the collapse, but Patricia Lancaster, Buildings Commissioner reported that her office is in discussions with Charles Hynes of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office regarding possible criminal charges, including reckless endangerment, for both Sanchez and Lattarulo the owner of the home.

Whether you are a construction worker, a member of the public, or a tenant, you are entitled to be free of another’s negligence that might harm you. If you or a loved one has been injured by another’s negligence, please call the preeminent construction accident injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, L.L.P., because we would like to meet with you. Call our office today at 212-986-7353 to set up an appointment to discuss your case.

NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AGREE TO PAY $20 MILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE DISCRIMINATION SUIT

2008-03-10T21:09:43Z

According to the New York Times, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday in China Town that he believed it would be better for the City to settle than to litigate a 2001 New York race discrimination lawsuit filed against the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The class action lawsuit grew out of a flood of complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1999. Under the $20 million dollar class action settlement, the city did not have to admit wrongdoing and Mayor Bloomberg is happy to put the whole issue behind himself and City, even though the settlement must first be approved by a federal judge.

This original class action race discrimination lawsuit was brought on behalf of 11 Black and Hispanic employees, when those employees alleged that their white counterparts were paid more than them, and that if they complained they were retaliated against by being reassigned to offices a great distance from their homes or assigned to undesirable areas of buildings- like dusty basements. A second, Civil Rights lawsuit filed by the Justice Department in 2002, settled in 2005, called for sweeping changes in the promotions procedures in the parks department.

]]> Approximately 3,500 present and former employees are involved in the class action suit and settlement. As a part of the $20 million dollar settlement, the city has agreed to pay compensatory damages and back pay to the class. Further, the City has agreed to new pay scales and oversight as to future promotion practices and procedures. According to the Times story, statistical evidence presented to the court indicated that in 2000 almost 93% of employees earning less than $20,000 per year were Black or Hispanic. Additionally, in the category of employees earning $50,000-$60,000 per year only 14% were found to be Black or Hispanic.

As an employee you deserve to be treated fairly. That means you should have an equal opportunity to succeed in the workplace, and to have equal pay for equal work. Further, retaliation by superiors if complaints are lodged based on racial discrimination is entirely unacceptable. If you believe you have been treated in a discriminatory manner within the workplace, please call our experienced NY discrimination attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, L.L.P., would like to meet with you. Please call our office at 212-986-7353 to set up an appointment to discuss your case.

TRUMP SOHO SO CURSED-‘JUST ONE DISASTER AFTER ANOTHER’

2008-03-07T20:29:35Z

The Buildings Department issued a stop-work order against contractor Bovis Lend Lease and cited the company for not securing a chain used to hoist windows. Apparently, according to the Daily News, gusts of wind up to 50 MPH were responsible for causing loose chains to crash into the side of the Trump SoHo tower-showering glass to the streets below and cracking windows, neighborhood residents remarked. Buildings Department spokeswoman, Kate Lindquist, indicated that in addition to the falling glass approximately a dozen windows were cracked and others were removed as a precautionary measure.

Executive Director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Andrew Berman said that the SoHo project has been one disaster after another. This isn’t the first problem for the Trump project, which was cited for several building code violations after a worker fell 42 stories to his death in a new york construction accident back in January.

The winds caused general chaos on several building projects within the city when the Department cautioned and closed down several projects that posed a threat to the public. Seventy-five percent of the timber and plywood formwork located on the roof of a fifteen story West Village condominium building collapsed, according the Department’s spokeswoman, Kate Lindquist.

]]> In another stop-work order the Buildings Department levied against the Superior Ink project, citing the contractor, Plaza Construction, for failing to protect the public. Conditions were apparently so hazardous, according to the News story that even residents of an adjacent building were evacuated.

Surprisingly, portions of midtown sidewalk roofs that pedestrians use for walking collapsed, even though those tunnels are reported to withstand winds of up to 100 mph. The sidewalk shed’s contractor has been ordered to make repairs on the damages and the contractor, Everest Scaffolding, was cited with code violations.

According to the Buildings Department there were several other wind-related construction accidents to scaffolding and sidewalk sheds throughout the city, but a full listing of all damages was not available at this time.

As a New Yorker, you have a right to walk on the sidewalk without worry that parts of building or construction materials will fall on you. If you or a loved one has been injured through the negligence of another, please call our experienced New York Construction Accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, L.L.P., because we would like to meet with you. Please call our office at 212-986-7353 to set up an appointment to discuss your case today!