Worker

California Jury Decides on BART Worker Discrimination Case Over COVID-19 Religious Exemptions

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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A federal jury in California has reached a decision on a contentious case involving the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). The trial revolved around allegations that the transit authority discriminated against employees who requested religious exemptions from its COVID-19 vaccination requirement. The jury concluded that BART did indeed engage in discriminatory practices by not adequately accommodating the religious beliefs of certain employees opposed to vaccination. This verdict marks a significant moment for workplace religious freedom cases amidst the pandemic. At the crux of the case were the policies … Read more

Los Angeles Train Yard Worker Wins $58 Million in Injury Lawsuit Over Slip and Fall Incident

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Los Angeles — A substantial $58 million jury verdict in favor of a train yard worker who slipped and sustained injuries while working on a train in Palmdale could set a precedent for the treatment of contractor safety in high-stress work environments. Pablo Scipione, 46, was awarded compensatory and punitive damages after a court found that Kinkisharyo International LLC failed to ensure a safe working environment. On a late night call to perform urgent electrical repairs, Scipione, an independent contractor with Altech Services, arrived at Kinkisharyo International’s train manufacturing yard. Employees were under pressure to … Read more

$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

$68.5 Million Awarded in Historic Verdict for Family of Worker Killed at Philadelphia Construction Site

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PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia jury has awarded $68.5 million in damages to the widow and young son of a construction worker who died after a fall from an improperly secured balcony. The verdict, returned on Wednesday, concluded a lawsuit involving allegations of negligence and wrongful death against OCF Construction LLC and several associated companies. The incident that led to the legal battle occurred on December 15, 2021, at a luxury townhouse development in the Fitler Square area of the city. Siarhei Marhunou, 38, was working on the fifth-floor balcony of the new five-unit complex when … Read more