Negligence of General Contractor and Engineering Firm Caused Fatal Crane Collapse

Private Website/ Pr News Wire, May 16, 2007

Seattle - A Washington Department of Labor and Industries report indicates that the November 16, 2006 death of Matthew Ammon in a Bellevue construction crane collapse was caused by the negligence of Seattle general contractor Lease Crutcher Lewis and engineering firm Magnusson Klemencic.

The report shows that his death could easily have been prevented. The I report proves a critical fact beyond dispute. Construction can kill when decisions are based on convenience or cost and not on safety and protecting the lives of innocent bystanders and neighbors. The report clearly shows that safety not schedules or savings is the number one concern in construction contracting.

Other key findings of the investigation include

• Operator error was not a factor the investigation found the crane operator was well experienced and was operating the crane properly.
• Engineered foundation, by Magnusson Klemencic Associates of Seattle, was designed to withstand only about one fourth the pressures that the 210-foot tower crane actually required.
• The design problem was compounded by the failure of the general contractor to maintain and inspect the crane base in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.