Settlement in fatal crane collapse in Bellevue

A state agency and a contractor have settled a dispute over a crane collapse that killed a Microsoft Corp. lawyer in Bellevue.

Under a deal announced Friday by the Department of Labor & Industries, Lease Crutcher Lewis agreed not to appeal a $9,200 fine. The agency, in turn, agreed to modify a safety violation finding.

An engineering firm, Magnusson Klemencic, was fined $5,600. That company's appeal is still pending, state officials said.

The case involves the collapse of a 210-foot tower crane in downtown Bellevue on Nov. 15, 2006. The crash killed 31-year-old Matthew Ammon and left three buildings severely damaged.

Lease Crutcher Lewis originally was accused of failing to ensure the crane was adequately inspected and maintained. In the settlement, the company was cited for failing to obtain third-party oversight in designing a nonstandard base for the crane. The fine was unchanged.

A second violation, not related to the crane failure, had to do with installing a sign on the tower crane that exceeded size recommendations. State officials said their investigation found no connection between the sign and the crane collapse.

"We appreciate the department's willingness to review the citations and work cooperatively with us to reach a settlement," said Gary Smith, general manager of Lease Crutcher Lewis in Seattle. "We believe the modified citation better reflects the facts in this case."

Steve Cant, assistant director for Labor & Industry's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, noted that Lease Crutcher Lewis continues to have an outstanding safety record as shown by its inspection history and lower than average workers' compensation claims.

Earlier in October, relatives of Ammon filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court against the Lease Crutcher Lewis and Magnusson Klemencic.

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