US govt sues firm for $1M OSHA penalties

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=78139&cat=1

By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter

The U.S. government filed yesterday a lawsuit against Sablan Construction Company Ltd. to collect its alleged delinquent debts totaling over $1 million arising from numerous penalties imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The U.S. government, acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA, sued the Sablan Construction Co. Ltd. also known as Sablan Corp., Sablan Rock Quarry, and Sablan Enterprises Inc.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikel W. Schwab and Jessica F. Cruz asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to order the defendant to pay $700,000 in principal amount plus $65,335.20 in accrued pre-judgment interest.

The lawyers also demanded payment of $228,999.87 in administrative charges, $52,501.50 in penalty charges, and $350 in filing fees.

The complaint alleged that on July 18, 1991, an OSHA safety officer conducted a comprehensive safety inspection of the company's operations at its Sablan Building in Chalan Piao and found multiple violations.

The complaint said that on Oct. 17, 1991, OSHA issued to Sablan Construction 15 citations, including seven “serious” violations.

FULL story at link.