28.08.2006

Crane hirer settles $3.1 million suit

Maxim Cranes has agreed to pay the family of Emilio Talavera $3.1 million, settling a lawsuit that claimed the company had modified the crane and were negligent with its maintenance. A 2001 OSHA report seemed to support this
Talavera was working with a construction crew on August 26, 2000 at a Mitchell Gas Services plant near Bridgeport, Texas, he and another worker were standing under the cranes boom when an extension became dislodged and fell. The crane operator shouted a warning to the men below, Talavera pushed his co-worker to safety before being struck in the head by the falling boom extension. He died shortly thereafter.

Talavera's wife and four children filed a lawsuit against the crane rental company for failing to properly maintain and inspect the equipment and modify the crane prior to the accident. Anthony Crane Rental, has since changed its name to Maxim Crane Works and now operates the world’s largest crane fleet.

The company pulled through a Chapter 11 restructuring in 2004 and is currently up for sale.