{"id":4337,"date":"2021-08-30T16:58:43","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T16:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.awkolaw.com\/?p=4337"},"modified":"2023-06-30T20:36:13","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T20:36:13","slug":"editorial-skanska-again-proves-an-untrustworthy-community-partner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.awkolaw.com\/editorial-skanska-again-proves-an-untrustworthy-community-partner\/","title":{"rendered":"Editorial: Skanska again proves an untrustworthy community partner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding=”0px|25px|25px|25px|false|true” sticky_enabled=”0″]

U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida Judge Hope T. Cannon has ruled against Skanska on charges that <\/span>the company deliberately destroyed evidence<\/span><\/a> by wiping company cellphones in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally and the trail of destruction left by Skanska’s unsecured barges in Pensacola Bay.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge finds Skanska deliberately destroyed evidence after Hurricane Sally. What’s next?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

This is just further confirmation for the citizens of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties that the construction company is not a trustworthy community partner, despite the hundreds of millions of dollars they are being paid by taxpayers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The finding likely came as no surprise to roughly 1,000 local residents and businesses who are seeking damages from the company. Skanska has resisted taking any financial responsibility for the widespread harm to properties and businesses that resulted from the destruction and bridge outages caused by the company’s barges.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As reported by the PNJ’s Emma Kennedy, “The claimants\u2019 attorneys \u2014 primarily from law firms Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis and Overholtz; Levin Papantonio Rafferty; and Beggs & Lane \u2014 claimed that Skanska deliberately wiped cellphones of multiple important officials, including those responsible for the company\u2019s hurricane plan and for relocating the 23 construction barges that ultimately caused significant damage to the bridge and other property.”<\/span><\/p>\n

This is in advance of the upcoming bench trial that is set for Sept. 13 that will decide whether the pool of claimants can include those with only economic impacts like businesses and commuters, or if it would be limited to only those with physical damage to their property. As a result of the latest finding, during the trial in September, “the judge will assume that whatever is missing from the evidence because of the phones being cleared would have been favorable to the claimants and unfavorable to Skanska,” Kennedy reported.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s a relief to see that judges are giving voice to protections for average citizens, because without the authority of the courts and the work of the legal defense team, local residents and businesses would be virtually powerless against the multi-billion dollar company, which has leveraged its role in major state construction projects to escape any tough sanctions or discipline from the state of Florida.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Skanska is expected to seek either total exoneration of financial responsibility or limit that responsibility to the value of the barges, which is about $1.2 million. Pause and think about that for a minute. Think about all the property damaged, all the workers hurt, all the business that dried up in Gulf Breeze, all the commuters who had to spend miles, time and gas money changing their lives and routines because Skanska didn’t follow their own emergency protocols for the hurricane.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond this specific case, the story of Skanska shows how terribly out-sized citizens, cities and even counties can be when faced with a massive corporation that has bad behavior protected and enabled by friendly business relationships with state and federal authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hurricane Sally was a massive natural disaster, but some of the worst destruction was man-made by a corporate construction giant. Little folks need a chance to defend themselves, and Judge Cannon’s latest ruling helps to level the battlefield.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: <\/span>Pensacola News Journal<\/span><\/a><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida Judge Hope T. Cannon has ruled against Skanska on charges that the company deliberately destroyed evidence by wiping company cellphones in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally and the trail of destruction left by Skanska\u2019s unsecured barges in Pensacola Bay.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4338,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- The court must now find a new judge in the case against Skanska USA regarding Three Mile Bridge damage after the current judge recused himself from the case.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Judge Roger Vinson did so, he says, because the homeowners association in Portofino where he owns a condo filed a claim in the case on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deadline to file a claim against Skanska wrapped up Monday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Sam Geisler -- an attorney for law firm Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz -- says he counted around 985 claims in total. His firm filed 485 of those.<\/p>\n

\"Really, you have businesses of all shapes and sizes, from a one-person business all the way up to hundreds of employees,\" he said. \"Like Baptist, for example, filed a claim, along with all kinds of different businesses. And also municipalities, both counties, both cities -- Gulf Breeze and Pensacola -- filed claims.. ...Really just the level of filing shows just the breadth of effect Skanska's conduct has caused this region.\"<\/p>\n

Geisler says many filed right before the deadline. He believes those people likely wanted to have all the information and documentation ready before making the claim official.<\/p>\n

As the court works to replace Judge Vinson, Geisler says, if anything, it could impact future deadlines.<\/p>\n

In June, a judge will hear oral arguments, deciding if Maritime Law applies in this case. Regardless, a judge will then hear arguments on Sept. 13 about whether Skanska can be held liable for damages related to the closure.<\/p>\n

Until those deadlines, Geisler says both parties will file numerous documents.<\/p>\n

\"Even without the documents, it's hard to imagine how Skanska was not even just a little bit -- and that's all we need to show -- just a little bit negligent,\" he said. \"Considering in our position, they were grossly negligent, if not worse so.\"<\/p>\n

Skanska provided Channel 3 this statement on Tuesday:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Skanska is focused on repairing the Pensacola Bay Bridge as quickly and safely as possible. We remain committed to putting the full resources of our company forward and reconnecting the communities.\"<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

Skanska plans to reopen Pensacola Bay Bridge the week of May 31.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Reopening a bridge that you were responsible for closing is not the end of accountability,\" Geisler said. \"It is really not even the beginning of accountability.\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

By: Olivia Iverson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Date:

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