美大学电梯事故遇难者家属获赔偿

死者Andrew Polakowski

五年前，一名美国俄亥俄州立大学新生在校内一次电梯事故中身亡，如今，死者家属获得了该大学总共100万美元的赔偿。
死者名为Andrew Polakowski，巴拿马州人，2006年10月20日死亡，死亡原因是其从宿舍楼中一座被困电梯中跌落至死，死时年仅18岁。
律师Peter Weinberger说：“这次赔偿理所应当，受害人家属也感到满意。”他拒绝谈赔偿的详细信息。
受害者家属在付完律师费用后将得到523,151美元。
受害者同时向5家事故责任公司索要总共612,500美元的赔偿。
作为责任公司之一的Abell电梯服务公司（肯塔基州）赔偿了10万美元，公司拒绝就此事发表评论。其他责任公司也未发表任何评论。
俄亥俄州政府同样未就此事深入谈论，其官方只是称“希望此次赔偿能安抚受害者家属，我们为那次电梯事故和对受害者家属造成的伤害感到遗憾。”
如今的俄亥俄州立大学改造升级了学校电梯和电梯报警系统，并完善了校内电梯安全规范，尤其是宿舍电梯安全规范。
学校还会教育入学新生了解电梯安全知识。
事发之后，受害者家属律师投诉学校对电梯监管疏忽。事发时，事故电梯中有24人，超出电梯最大承重量多达1100磅。
学校接到诉讼后曾辩解称校方没有责任，是受害者自身的责任，“因为当时受害者硬挤进电梯，才导致电梯超重停止运行。”

Family gets settlement in Ohio elevator death

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The parents of an Ohio State University freshman killed in an elevator accident are pleased the case has been resolved following a $1 million settlement by the university, their attorney said.
Andrew Polakowski of Erie, Pa., died Oct. 20, 2006, when he was pinned trying to leave an overcrowded elevator that was stuck between floors.
"The settlement agreement speaks for itself," Cleveland lawyer Peter Weinberger said Tuesday. "Obviously, the family is pleased the matter has been resolved." He declined to comment further.
Polakowski's family is receiving $523,151 after attorneys' fees and expenses.
The March 17 settlement also calls for $612,500 in contributions to Ohio State toward the settlement from five companies involved in the manufacture and maintenance of elevators.
One company, Abell Elevator Service Co., of Louisville, Ky., contributing $100,000, declined to comment Tuesday. Other companies could not immediately comment or did not immediately return messages.
None of the parties, including Ohio State, admit any liability under the terms of the settlement.
Ohio State said it is happy the case is over.
OSU officials also "hope that the conclusion of the proceedings will bring a measure of comfort to the Polakowski family. The death of Andrew Polakowski was a tragic loss for his family and friends and also deeply affected many members of The Ohio State University community."
After the accident, the university reviewed how it handles elevator upgrades, repairs and emergency calls. Ohio State also posts safety messages inside all elevators and adds extra messages outside dormitory elevators.
The university also addresses elevator safety for all students the day they move into a dorm.
The lawsuit filed by Polakowski's parents alleged the school was negligent with regard to the elevator that crushed the 18-year-old student.
At the time of the accident, the elevator was crowded with 24 people, exceeding its weight capacity by as much as 1,100 pounds.
Students piling onto the already crowded elevator car may have encouraged still more people to enter, according to a final police report on the accident released in 2007.
After the lawsuit was filed, Ohio State University argued it was not responsible for Polakowski's death because his own negligence caused or contributed to his injuries. Ohio State said the student helped to overcrowd the elevator, causing it to become stuck between floors.