Can Engineers Predict When a Structure Will Fall?

  • Thread starter Thread starter russ_watters
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Hearing
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around the sentencing of the owners of the Pier 34 nightclub, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter following a tragic fire that resulted in four deaths. The owners received sentences of house arrest and probation, raising concerns about the perceived leniency of the punishment, particularly due to their age and possible influence. Participants express frustration over the lack of accountability and the implications for public safety, emphasizing the need for club owners to take their responsibilities seriously. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of punishment, questioning whether harsher sentences would serve as a deterrent or simply add to the tragedy. The ethical responsibilities of engineers and the potential for preventing such disasters are highlighted, with a call for greater accountability in ensuring safety standards.
russ_watters
Mentor
Insights Author
Messages
23,694
Reaction score
11,133
I update this story from time to time as it is a good ethics case study for engineers. The owners of the club at Pier 34 plead guilty/no contenst to involuntary manslaughter and their sentencing hearing began today.

I see on virtually a daily basis, in my job and in life, people who don't take their responsibilities seriously enough and fail to consider the ramifications of their actions/inactions. These guys, I suspect, are going to spend a long time in jail because of it.

http://www.nbc10.com/news/13552211/detail.html?dl=headlineclick
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
russ_watters said:
These guys, I suspect, are going to spend a long time in jail because of it.

http://www.nbc10.com/news/13552211/detail.html?dl=headlineclick
Seems not -
Heat nightclub operator Eli Karetny, of Cherry Hill, N.J., was ordered to serve nine to 18 months on house arrest, then five years of probation.

Pier 34 owner Michael Asbell, of Merion, will serve 11 to 22 months house arrest and seven years of probation.

Additionally, Karetny and Asbell will each need to set up 1,000 hours of community service through a mentoring program for innercity youth.
Must have a lot of money / influential friends.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The judge went easy on them because they are old. Personally, I don't consider that to be a good reason to let people get away with murder.
 
That was such a horrid fire. As the law goes, involuntary manslaughter would be the only way to charge them. Now that that is done, the civil law sutes can begin.
 
russ_watters said:
The judge went easy on them because they are old. Personally, I don't consider that to be a good reason to let people get away with murder.

just out of curiosity what do you think it would have accomplished to sentence to 15? or life? or death? the people are dead, ruining two more lives does what?

or do you think this it would have acted as a deterrant?
 
hypatia said:
That was such a horrid fire. As the law goes, involuntary manslaughter would be the only way to charge them. Now that that is done, the civil law sutes can begin.
Wrong night club. This one collapsed into the Delaware River and killed 4 people.
 
ice109 said:
just out of curiosity what do you think it would have accomplished to sentence to 15? or life? or death? the people are dead, ruining two more lives does what?
That argument applies to most crimes and implies that we shouldn't punish people for crimes. Punishment isn't just about getting people off the street, it is about punishing them.
or do you think this it would have acted as a deterrant?
I do. Like I said in the OP, people should take their actions more seriously. There are a lot of club owners (and others) who play Russian Roulette with the safety of their patrons - whether by opening up a club that is essentially guaranteed to collapse or chaining fire exits so they can't escape a fire.

I can't begin to imagine what was on the minds of these owners when they opened the club that night, but they were told this would happen - that makes it worse than Russian Roulette. They knew the chamber they got had a bullet in it and pulled the trigger anyway. That's like opening up a club that is already on fire.
 
Last edited:
The engineers should win awards

You know your a great engineer when...

You can predict when a structure is going to fall naturally within a relative standard deviation of...6 sigma

Engineering sure has come a long way for us grad students! I could probably have come as close if I knew we were planning to blow it up that evening :cool:
 

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top