Malverne builder faces manslaughter in wall collapse
William Lattarulo had a simple reply for his laborers when they became concerned about a possible cave-in at his Brooklyn construction site in March, according to investigators: "Don't worry about it."
But now Lattarulo, 62, of Malverne, has plenty to worry about after his arrest yesterday on manslaughter charges stemming from the March 12 collapse of a wall, which killed a $100-a-day worker from Ecuador.
Smothered in the accident was Lauro Ortega, 30, an illegal immigrant and father of two living in Brooklyn.
At a news conference, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes said Lattarulo recklessly cut costs and ignored safety measures during the construction of a self-service laundry behind 795 Glenmore Ave. in East New York.
"It is a case really of greed leading to the unthinkable, the death of Lauro Ortega," Hynes said.
Lattarulo decided not to pay $90,000 for the services of a contractor to do excavation and proper underpinning work on the building where the foundation collapsed, Hynes said.
"He saved $90,000 and Lauro Ortega lost his life," Hynes said.
Michael Vecchione, chief of Hynes' rackets division, explained that although the project had necessary permits, Lattarulo tried to do the construction work himself without the help of qualified contractors. The underpinning or support work on the building foundation was "done in a shoddy way" and gave only some support, Vecchione said.
Although a construction expert had told Lattarulo that the site was dangerous and despite warnings from workers that the building was vibrating, work continued until the cave-in, Vecchione said.
"Don't worry about it," was Lattarulo's response to the laborers' stated fears of a possible accident, noted Vecchione, adding that the damaged building had to be torn down.
A dazed-looking, handcuffed Lattarulo was brought to state Supreme Court in Brooklyn for his arraignment on charges of second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment.
"Yeah, I am bewildered," Lattarulo said as he walked into the courthouse.
Judge Sheryl Parker set bail at $25,000 and Lattarulo was expected to post it later yesterday. He faces a maximum of 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter.
Defense attorney Norman Steiner of Yonkers called Ortega's death a tragic accident.
"It was an accident and accidents happen at construction sites," said Steiner outside court.
He castigated the city for holding news conferences instead of inspecting work sites.
Staff writer April Warren contributed to this story.
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Source: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nycont125723769jun12,0,4472691.story