死者Andrew Polakowski

五年前，一名美國(guó)俄亥俄州立大學(xué)新生在校內(nèi)一次電梯事故中身亡，如今，死者家屬獲得了該大學(xué)總共100萬(wàn)美元的賠償。
死者名為Andrew Polakowski，巴拿馬州人，2006年10月20日死亡，死亡原因是其從宿舍樓中一座被困電梯中跌落至死，死時(shí)年僅18歲。
律師Peter Weinberger說(shuō)：“這次賠償理所應(yīng)當(dāng)，受害人家屬也感到滿意?！彼芙^談賠償?shù)脑敿?xì)信息。
受害者家屬在付完律師費(fèi)用后將得到523,151美元。
受害者同時(shí)向5家事故責(zé)任公司索要總共612,500美元的賠償。
作為責(zé)任公司之一的Abell電梯服務(wù)公司（肯塔基州）賠償了10萬(wàn)美元，公司拒絕就此事發(fā)表評(píng)論。其他責(zé)任公司也未發(fā)表任何評(píng)論。
俄亥俄州政府同樣未就此事深入談?wù)摚涔俜街皇欠Q“希望此次賠償能安撫受害者家屬，我們?yōu)槟谴?u>電梯事故和對(duì)受害者家屬造成的傷害感到遺憾?！?BR>如今的俄亥俄州立大學(xué)改造升級(jí)了學(xué)校電梯和電梯報(bào)警系統(tǒng)，并完善了校內(nèi)電梯安全規(guī)范，尤其是宿舍電梯安全規(guī)范。
學(xué)校還會(huì)教育入學(xué)新生了解電梯安全知識(shí)。
事發(fā)之后，受害者家屬律師投訴學(xué)校對(duì)電梯監(jiān)管疏忽。事發(fā)時(shí)，事故電梯中有24人，超出電梯最大承重量多達(dá)1100磅。
學(xué)校接到訴訟后曾辯解稱校方?jīng)]有責(zé)任，是受害者自身的責(zé)任，“因?yàn)楫?dāng)時(shí)受害者硬擠進(jìn)電梯，才導(dǎo)致電梯超重停止運(yùn)行?！?/P>

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.