$101 Million Dollar Settlement for Tropicana Victims

Beth Janicek

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 395

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The collapse of five garage decks at Atlantic City's Tropicana Casino Resort was due to flaws in design, execution and project oversight, according to an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It happened Oct. 30, 2003, as workers poured concrete on the top deck. The garage, part of a ritzy $265 million expansion called The Quarter, came crashing down in a stunning cascade of concrete, steel and falling construction workers.

Killed were ironworkers Michael Wittland, 53, of Pleasantville; and James Bigelow, 29, of Egg Harbor Township; and concrete workers Scott Pietrosante, 21, of Buena Vista Township; and Robert Tartaglio Jr., 42, of Galloway Township. Dozens more were injured, and hundreds were sent running for safety.

The lawyers said 36 plaintiffs would share the $101 million, which includes $82.5 million in cash and $8.3 million for medical expenses. The money will be divided case by case through arbitration, they said.

The results of a six-month investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration pointed to a project flawed in design, execution and oversight, one in which basic principles of construction and engineering were broken or overlooked.

The federal agency in April 2004 fined Keating, Fabi, Mitchell Bar Placement of Sewell, and Site-Blauvelt Engineers of Mount Laurel a total of almost $120,000. Fabi, which was cited for six of nine total violations, including one "willful," was ordered to pay most of that - $98,500.