Pennsylvania’s Statutory Employer Doctrine is a common defense in construction accident cases. The law was originally meant to protect workers. It has since been twisted to help defend employers from liability for workplace accidents. The history of the statutory employer defense Generally, if a person is hurt while working they cannot sue their employer. The…
Philadelphia trial lawyer John Mattiacci recently settled a lead poisoning case on behalf of a union carpenter for $450,000. The plaintiff worked as a union carpenter on the restoration of a historic building. Despite the property owner’s testing for lead, which showed high levels, no lead removal was performed prior to construction. The plaintiff’s job…
A grand jury will investigate the Philadelphia building collapse that killed six people. The grand jury will determine whether anyone other than crane operator Sean Benschop will face criminal charges. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said that the grand jury will review “any and all aspects” of the collapse. CNN reported that Williams said this will include City…
Today Mayor Michael Nutter told ABC News that the search for survivors in the Philadelphia building collapse has ended. Six people died in the building collapse and rescue efforts lasted more than thirty hours. Several of the people who died were in the Salvation Army when the building next to it collapsed. Fourteen people were pulled from the…
OSHA Fines Sea Isle Builder JF Builders $48,000 For Alleged OSHA Violations The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has hit Sea Isle City company JF Builders, Inc. with fines of $48,510. The fines were implemented for two repeat and two serious safety violations at a Pleasure Avenue construction site in Sea Isle…
Know What’s Below – Call Before You Dig What is the “Pennsylvania One Call System”? In Pennsylvania, the utility companies must be notified before any digging is done with earth moving equipment. This includes work done by a homeowner on his or her own property when using powered equipment. This protects underground utilities from being…