A jury awarded more than $150 million to the families of those killed and injured after a crane collapsed in Seattle.
The money will go to the families of two workers who were killed in the 2019 collapse, as well as three other individuals who were injured or had their vehicles damaged.
“It’s simple. When your work affects the public, your job is to protect the public,” said David Beninger, an attorney representing the family of the now-deceased Alan Justad. “We’re grateful to members of the jury for enforcing the law and holding Omega responsible. Hopefully, this will also bring some closure for the families and individuals hurt by this preventable collapse.”
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On April 27, 2019, a series of crews from local construction companies Omega Rigging and Northwest Tower Crane were disassembling the crane when it suddenly broke down, killing Justad, a 71-year-old city planner, and Sarah Wong, a 19-year-old university student. Two ironworkers, Andrew Yoder and Travis Corbet, were also killed in the collapse.
The families of Wong and Justad filed wrongful-death suits against Omega. Yoder and Corbet’s families filed separate lawsuits.
“This verdict is a victory for accountability,” Justad’s daughters told KOMO News. “We are deeply grateful to members of the jury for their thoughtful consideration and deliberation and for sending a crystal-clear message that companies absolutely must put safety first to protect the lives of our community members.”
Wong’s family is entitled to $54 million under the verdict, with Justad receiving $39 million. The parties who were injured or lost property will each receive $9 million.
An October 2019 report found Omega and Northwest had failed to take proper precautions to minimize potential damage, including the premature removal of pins from the structure given the wind conditions of the day.
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Omega has also attempted to brush aside any demands to take responsibility or change its approach, Beninger alleges. The company also had a history of ignoring safety protocols in the past.
“Through the legal process, we found that Omega turned a blind eye to its unsafe practices and refused to learn any lessons or make changes to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” Beninger argued. “We hope this jury verdict is a wake-up call for the Omegas of the world to make sure safety first is more than just a slogan.”
Beninger also noted other companies involved had recognized their accountability for implementing safer practices.
