On Aug. 18, 2007, the Deutche Bank building, which was being demolished after it was damaged during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, caught fire. FDNY Firefighters Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino died after becoming trapped in a 14th floor stairwell.
According to a report by the New York Daily News, Firefighter Graffagnino’s widow has reached a $10 million settlement with the city and Bovis Lend Lease, a subcontractor working on the building at the time. The settlement still requires Manhattan Supreme Court approval before it is final.
In 2010, Firefighter Beddia’s family reached a $6 million settlement with Bovis.
Among the several safety violations that came to light after the fire was that the standpipes had been disabled. FDNY was faulted for not regularly inspecting the building.
The paper reportws that Firefigher Graffagnino’s widow was represented by attorney John Meringolo, Firefighter Graffagnino’s childhood friend, and that he collected 23 percent of the settlement, rather than the typical 33 percent.