NYC Bill Would Consider Contractors' Financial Situation when Awarding Damages in Construction Fatalities

A proposed New York City Council bill would create a sliding scale when awarding damages in construction fatality cases. The bill would allos judges to consider a defendant's financial resources when determining penalties for construction violations resulting in serious injury or death. It would set a civil penalty ceiling at $500,000 for companies and $150,000 for individuals deemed responsible for creating hazardous conditions that lead to serious injury or death on a jobsite.

However, the Building Trades Employers' Association and the General Contractors Association are denouncing the proposed bill saying ability to pay should not be a consideration when enforcing construction safety and that the bill sends the message that workers' lives at larger companies are more valuable than workers at smaller companies.

(more on the NYC proposed bill for awarding damages in construction fatality cases...)