The Massachusetts family of a 38-year-old Jamaica Plane woman who died when the Big Dig Tunnel ceiling collapsed last year may be close to reaching a settlement agreement with Powers Fasteners, the company that provided the ceiling bolt epoxy that is believed to be responsible for the collapse. Powers Fasteners also faces an involuntary manslaughter charge in Milena Del Valle’s death.
There are 15 defendants named in the multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed by Del Valle’s family. Other defendants named include the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Big Dig project manager Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff, and a number of contractors.
Del Valle’s husband and three children are named as plaintiffs in the Boston wrongful death lawsuit. The family is asking for hundreds of millions of dollars as compensation for the “outrageously egregious” acts that led to Del Valle’s tragic death.
The wrongful death accident occurred on July 10, 2006 when concrete ceiling panels in the Interstate 90 connector tunnel fell onto the car that Del Valle was in. Her husband Angel was also in the motor vehicle during the deadly accident but survived.
An investigation by federal investigators showed that workers had applied the wrong epoxy when making the tunnel ceiling secure. Powers Fasteners supposedly failed to warn project managers and construction contractors that using the wrong fastdrying glue on the ceiling could have catastrophic results. Powers disputes this, claiming that it notified engineers that the fast-set epoxy should not be used to secure the tunnel ceiling.
Big Dig victim’s kin may settle suit, Boston.com, December 12, 2007
Possible settlement for family of woman killed in Big Dig disaster, WHDH, December 12, 2007
Powers Fasteners denies negligence in Big Dig tunnel’s ceiling collapse, Industrial Distribution, October 9, 2007
Related Web Resources:
Big Dig Ceiling Collapse, Boston.com
The Big Dig, Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
Powers Fasteners
If you were in injured in an accident in Massachusetts or if someone you love was killed because another party was negligent or reckless, contact a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer right away.