11.05.2016

Crane victim’s widow sues for $600 million

The widow of David Wichs, the man killed by the boom of the crawler crane that overturned in New York in February is suing the city for $600 million.

$550 million of the total relates to what he might have earned over his lifetime – he was just 38 when he died. Then $25 million is to cover the “conscious pain and suffering" that he endured as he watched the boom come down on to him, and a further $25 million is for the loss of love and companionship that his wife - Rebecca Wichs - has suffered.

Wichs, a Harvard graduate, had worked at Tower Research Capital for the past 15 years, the couple had married in 2013, he was walking along the street when the boom landed on him.

The Wichs legal battle began in April, when Rebecca Wich filed a petition to stop crane owners Bay Crane from having open access to the damaged crane, in case it tried to tamper with the evidence- that case is due to be heard later today.

This latest claim follows an earlier one from Thomas O'Brien, 73 who plans to sue the city for $30 million,for the skull and spinal fractures he suffered in the incident. His suit accuses the city of "carelessness, negligence, and recklessness...in the ownership, operation, control, repair, inspection, and maintenance of its premises, streets, roadways, construction sites, projects, and cranes".