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Everyone is a little more aware of the city's steam system - and those steam vents on certain streets - after last week's Midtown steam pipe explosion. The NY Times reports that Con Ed "routinely checks manholes for vapor after rainstorms and pumps out water that reaches the height of the pipes." Hmm, maybe that's why the first lawsuit against Con Ed has been filed. The Post reports a 52-year-old Bay Ridge woman, Francine Dorf, says that she thought the explosion was a terrorist attack (her sister was killed on September 11) and said that the event triggered her post-traumatic street disorder: "I can't sleep, I can't eat."
Many businesses are still worried about their lost revenues, as Con Ed won't reimburse them for lost business. Mayor Bloomberg noted that the city is offering interest-free loans of up to $10,000 but Senator Schumer said, "Con Ed needs to come through for the businesses that could have their back broken by this explosion." Assemblyman Michael Gianaris is working on legislation to require Con Ed to reimburse business for lost businesses (shades of last year's Queens blackout).
The Daily News also had this quote from Mayor Bloomberg: "I don't know how you can have [Con Ed] account for what's under the ground. They're responsible for it. What do you expect them to do? But I'm not here to defend Con Ed." Huh? We think people expect Con Ed to know what's going on!
And Lois Baumerich, the woman who died of a heart attack after the blast, was buried in NJ yesterday. She was remembered for her generous spirit. The NY Times on what her aunt Lucy Murray said: "That was a terrible thing that happened to her in the city. ” she told mourners. “I hope Con Ed gets” — here, she paused, as if trying to measure her words — “fixing those pipes.”
Photograph of a Midtown steam pipe by dietrich on Flickr
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I'm usually not a stickler for the typos and such, but it's post traumatic STRESS disorder, not street.
Also, if she does have PTSD, it's not because of ConEd's explosion last week (1 - it's too early for a diagnosis of PTSD from less than a week ago; 2 - she says she's reliving 9/11/01, which means this triggered an attack/episode and did not cause the disorder itself).
Can I play devil's advocate to Shumer for a minute? While I agree ConEd should help out businesses that have been severely hurt by their equipment failures, how exactly is any business in the heart of midtown Manhattan going to under because it missed a few days revenues? Do businesses really live day to day like that? If so how could they possibly survive?. Shumer really needs to quit the histrionics.
I don't understand why Bloomie defends Con Ed. It's obvious to me that they haven't maintained their system.
Not that I have any axes to swing. Those 11 days I went without power in Sunnyside last year really haven't been seared on my soul.
This Boston native hates Con Ed more than I hate the Yankees. And that is saying A LOT.
how bout a nice tall glass of STFU for Franny Dorf
what? the mayor's not here to defend ConEd?
he's been doing that forever. and he wants to be president? President shorty, our first hispanic president.
Bloomberg defends ConEd because he's asked them to put more time into new construction requirements, and let maintenance slip a bit. This is an unwritten agreement of course, but I'm sure someone at ConEd has saved emails and such that they can use to bang Bloomberg over the head if he gets to uppity with them.
That's my conspiracy theory for today.....
Somehow I knew, when I saw the title of this post, that the lawsuit wouldn't be filed by the family of the two-truck driver, or business owner who lost all their windows and half their stock, but by some person invoking terrorism fears and emotional stress. This case will be thrown out, possibly even for the reasons in [1].
It's a big responsibility to take care of NY's infrastructure. It's also easy to ignore. If ConEd can't do it, are there any other options?
Talk about a frivolous, opportunistic lawsuit. Not only is this an insult to the memory of her sister, it's an insult to the people who were physically hurt and have legitimate damages from this event. The lawyer who is taking on this ambulance chasing lawsuit should be disbarred and the woman should have to pay hefty fine.
I should sue this woman for sparking my PTSD related to stupid people and their stupid lawsuits.
Right on, #9.
typo or no, i think "post traumatic street disorder" has a certain ring to it.
If anyone deserves to sue, it's that guy who was cooked alive like a lobster, and his passenger.
That's it.
Anyone else is a shyster who deserves prison.
I'm sure there are plenty of business owners with legitimate claims to lost business (even moreso if ConnEd knew this was an issue and ignored it)... so someone should sue, just not this lady. Most definitely not this lady.
Surprise! Francine Dorf works at a law firm on 42nd St.
I wouldn't call her a "lady".
Jen S, there is another option. we could have the government control and maintain it- a public benefit corporation. i'm sure they'd do a great job maintaining the system, physically and economically....
Basically, this bozo shoudl have moved out of NYC after 9/11 if she was such a nervous wreck. Take her out back and shoot her.
I agree with #11.
Post-traumatic STREET disorder could also cover metal plates over the street with live electrical current, manholes exploding, scaffolding collapsing, etc. Yes, it is to the point and very appropriate.
Did that women get enough money from the 911 fund? People like this need to be ejected to international waters. Post traumatic disorder my ass...
I have said it before and will say it again, it's time to bring criminal charges against Con Ed in a Federal Court. They're getting away with literally, murder and not just on this steam pipe incident.
Francine Dorf may not have received any money from the 9/11 Fund, especially if her sister was married. The 9/11 compensation would have been given to her married sister's husband. If her sister was not married, I believe the $$ would have then gone to her closest relative which in many cases was the parent(s). (The whole 9/11 Fund was largely a scam anyway.)
I sure hope that young tow-truck driver, Michael McCullough, recovers from his horrific burns. It's amazing that he even survived that blast of super-heated steam. So sad--and very preventable.
Ms. Dork should take a Xanax & a Cucumber Cosmo (feel free to ask me where they kick ass).
She's likely going to try to prove RE-activation of her 9/11 PTSD. Hey everybody's got their 911 stories, and no, I won't recount mine here. I still get a chill when I hear hovering copters (Hey Newschannels, you don't need to do it every morning @ 6AM for a sunrise shot, use stock footage), multple sirens or a "different" airliner sound (heard #1, saw#2).
If she's so PTSD'd out how are you functional enough to file suit in a week.
Hell, The Exorcist, Jaws and It still give me the willies.
Hey, the tow-truck guy, the Pfizer exec, those right there and the business owners, you betcha, get taken care of & think punitive later.
Dork of the law firm, see my opening line, get laid & repeat.
Dadoc
Is #22 on drugs?
Con-Ed deserves to be sued for this -- by somebody who has a legitimate case (and I'm sure there are many).
Sorry schmod, guess ya didn't get my snarkiness.
OF COURSE sue their asses off.
But Ms. Dork with her week-later PTSD is the last one in line.
BBerg & the ConEd guys should be checking on Mr McCulough & the family of Ms Baumerich, not to mention the others directly injured, making sure to provide them the help they need @ this time.
BBerg should be at the businesses finding out how he can help them.
But prior to filing suit, those directly affected should be helped out while things sort out, voluntarily and prior to suit, while they get themselves together and get thru the acute trauma and damage.
Ms. Dork's frayed nerves can wait.
And yes, I do like the occasional drug.
Dadoc
And, you can bet that the ConEd counsel is going to try to prove that Ms Baumerich's demise was not a direct result of ConEd's negligence but was due to a pre-existing condition. She had a heart attack. was she on meds? medical condition? High Cholesterol? on Lipitor, Caduet (Pfizer drugs).
They'll try to say that they can't be sued 'cuz Mr. McCullough was working & driving @ the time.
He's covered under Workmen's Comp & No-Fault.
Reminds me of a case i was involved in years ago in Phila.
Little old lady raped, stabbed, bound & gagged & left in the basement. Cause of death? Heart Attack.
You hadda watch the defense try to say it wasn't due to the actions of the skanky next door kid who "didn't" kill her , cuz he didn't give her a heart attack.
I can see it coming already.
Snark
Dadoc
#23 - the comments of #22 are really the lyrics to a rap song.
Sorry, guest.
Hate SUVs & smoked windows, White as can be, no record, Don't got a .40 & a 40, and never call anybody "N" or biyat???, can't stand Barron, don't drink or nail Remy, this/that about the man.
Balding bearded older Zappa & Dead fan, prefer a sawed 12, a Bud & a doobie (No, I don't call them "blunts", after thirty years I know how to roll).
But if you think I can get a contract, I'll take a contract. But my entourage will have to use mass transit, be home by 2AM, be respectful of others, and I hate gold (as jewelery & Dental work.)
I also wear my pants at full mast with a belt, my cap faces forward and don't move my hands like someone with too much Thorazine.
Dadoc
Everyone involved with this incident should sue the City, & Con Ed . This is a direct result of the company not maintaining their infrastructure .