Failures

$68.5 Million Awarded in Philadelphia Construction Death Lawsuit, Highlighting Critical Worker Safety Failures

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Philadelphia, PA – A Philadelphia court awarded $68.5 million in damages Wednesday to the family of a construction worker who died in 2021 after a fall from an unsafe balcony at a luxury dwelling development. The jury found OCF Construction LLC, the project’s general contractor, liable for the worker’s death due to negligence and safety violations. The incident, which took the life of 38-year-old Siarhei Marhunou and left his widow Hanna and their young son grappling with the loss, occurred at a construction site in the Fitler Square neighborhood. The site at 2330 Sansom St. … Read more

Florida Judge Unseals Jeffrey Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts, Revealing Systemic Failures and Victim Testimonies

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WEST PALM BEAVH, Fla. — Transcripts from the 2006 grand jury proceedings involving Jeffrey Epstein have been released, shedding new light on how the cases against him were handled by the Florida prosecutors. On Monday, Palm Beach County Judge Luis Delgado made the documents public following the enactment of a new law by Governor Ron DeSantis that allows for their release, emphasizing transparency in a case surrounded by allegations of privilege and injustice. The released files reveal an unsettling narrative where prosecutors seemingly attempted to undermine the credibility of two young women who testified against … Read more

$68.5 Million Awarded in Tragic Philadelphia Construction Site Fall, Jury Points to Safety Failures

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Philadelphia, PA — A Philadelphia jury recently ruled in favor of awarding $68.5 million to the family of Siarhei Marhunou, a construction worker who tragically died after falling from a balcony at a Center City development site managed by OCF Realty. Marhunou’s fatal accident occurred in December 2021, and the lawsuit was filed by his estate in May 2022. Marhunou, a 38-year-old recent immigrant from Belarus, was working on the balcony installation of siding on a five-unit townhouse development located at 2330 Sansom Street when the incident took place. During his employment, Marhunou fell nearly … Read more

Special Grand Jury Report Exposes Failures in Suffolk County Child Protective Services Investigation of Thomas Valva’s Tragic Death

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Suffolk, NY – A special grand jury formed to investigate the Suffolk County Department of Social Services following the tragic death of 8-year-old Thomas Valva in 2020 has released a 75-page report. The report concludes that no criminal charges should be filed against Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers involved in investigating allegations of abuse by the child’s father and his fiancé. However, the report highlights the need for reform in confidentiality laws that effectively shielded the caseworkers from public scrutiny. The grand jury’s report does not recommend criminal charges against the CPS caseworkers or supervisors … Read more