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Colonial Mechanical Corporation CHARGED WITH
TOXIC GASSES AT CONDOMINIUMS
CAROL STICKNEY V COLONIAL MECHANICAL CORPORATION, HARRISON
& BATES, OTHERS
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Colonial Mechanical Corporation's Number
of accidents on the rise
Colonial Mechanical
Corporation's accident frequency rate was hovering at 8.8 and its
accidents had increased to 85 for the period from July 2000 to May 2001.
Compared to only 76 injuries in the same period the prior year. |
Carol Stickney lived at the Hamlet Condominiums in Henrico
County, Virginia. Colonial Mechanical Corporation’s job was to maintain all
of the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems in the condos. But
Stickney’s suit charged:
"Defendants negligently and carelessly allowed toxic and
poisonous fumes and substances to penetrate and accumulate in the
plaintiff’s condominium unit ... despite the fact that defendants ...
should have known that the condition of the premises was extremely
hazardous. The plaintiff was overcome by exposure to the fumes ...
sustaining serious and permanent injuries."
Stickney sued Colonial Mechanical Corporation and others
for over $50,000 for her pain, her medical bills, and the future costs of
her injuries and disabilities.
COLONIAL’S PARENT COMPANY’s NONCOMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL
LICENSING REGULATIONS COST THEM $35,000
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Correction:
In the last issue of the
Contractor's Critic, we reported that Colonial's injury frequency was
15.3 injuries per 100 employees. This is an error. Records
indicate the frequency is 15.6 injuries per 100 employees.
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FirstEnergy, Colonial Mechanical’s out of state owner,
sought to merge Colonial Mechanical with Morrison Mechanical And Building
Services. Although FirstEnergy was required to notify the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) of certain aspects of the merger in November
1997, they did not notify the FCC until almost two years later. This
notification was required because FirstEnergy and Colonial were licensed by
the FCC.
The FCC investigated the matter and as a result of
FirstEnergy’s failings, a "consent decree" was imposed on FirstEnergy.
FirstEnergy also made a "voluntary contribution" of $35,000 to the US
Treasury to settle the matter. |
