Last week, two of the contractors involved in the fatal accident settled for an undisclosed amount with the family of William Louth, who died Aug. 17, 1994, when the crane lifting him for emergency repairs in the Kingdome rammed into the ceiling. Louth, of Portland, and the other worker with him in the crane's bucket, Jorge Turincio of San Diego, plunged 250 feet to their deaths.
While the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, a complaint filed in U.S. District Court last August alleged that Ness Crane Service Inc., the crane operator, and Pacific Components Inc., the general contractor, failed to comply with safety regulations. Louth's mother, Patricia Connell, sought damages in her son's death.
William Marler, the Seattle attorney who represented the Louth family, said the family was pleased with the settlement.
In a similar suit brought by Turincio's family, Pacific Components settled for an undisclosed amount on March 7. Negotiations are continuing with Ness Crane.