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Captain of Ferry That Crashed Sues NYC
AP) -- ^ | Dec 4, 8:38 AM EST

Posted on 12/04/2005 8:11:21 AM PST by BenLurkin

NEW YORK (AP) -- The captain of the Staten Island ferry that crashed in October 2003, killing 11 people, is suing the city.

Michael Gansas wants his job back, with back pay, or he wants the city to arbitrate his grievances in front of a labor panel.

He claims city officials made him a scapegoat by firing him the month after the crash and that they made false statements about ferry regulations.

In the suit, Gansas says it's untrue that he violated rules requiring two captains to be in the pilot house when a ferry docks because there was no applicable rule in his case, according to published reports.

Richard Smith, the assistant captain of the ferry, was alone at the wheel. He lost consciousness before the accident.

Gansas filed suit on Nov. 22 in federal court in Brooklyn.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: New York
KEYWORDS: ferry; lawsuit; nyc; statenisland

1 posted on 12/04/2005 8:11:22 AM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

This is the culture of no responsibility.


2 posted on 12/04/2005 8:20:21 AM PST by AliVeritas (''I'd rather have Jihadis in front of me than Democrats behind me.'' Go GOP!)
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To: BenLurkin
The old Al Gore "no controlling legal authority" ploy.
3 posted on 12/04/2005 8:24:29 AM PST by Solamente
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To: BenLurkin
He lost consciousness before the accident.

I wonder why?

4 posted on 12/04/2005 8:24:42 AM PST by Hodar (With Rights, come Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)
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To: BenLurkin

What an ego.

He killed 11 people. Even if it's not his fault, he should have some perspective about it.


5 posted on 12/04/2005 8:25:04 AM PST by SteveMcKing ("No empire collapses because of technical reasons. They collapse because they are unnatural.")
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To: BenLurkin

Just goes to prove...there's ALWAYS a
lawyer out there more than willing to
file a suit against the Big Money Group,
no matter how tenuous the claim.

Maybe they should poll the passengers:

"If we reinstate Mr. Gansas at the Ferry
Wheel between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., what time
will you be boarding?"

Overwhelming REPLIES: "Book me for the
4:30 run!"


6 posted on 12/04/2005 8:45:00 AM PST by Grendel9 (uick)
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To: SteveMcKing

The man lost more than his job, he lost his career. If there was no rule, written or otherwise, not even a precident of having two captains on deck while docking, the city is wrong in blaming him and destroying his name. I thought that the man was found guilty of negligence, however.


7 posted on 12/04/2005 8:51:50 AM PST by Eva
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To: BenLurkin

I wonder if Senator Chuck Schumer's wife Iris Weinshall,the NYC Transportation Commissioner Will be a defendant in this case.As the ferry captain's boss, she has gotten very little publicity.


8 posted on 12/04/2005 9:34:49 AM PST by ardara
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To: Eva
If there was no rule, written or otherwise, not even a precident of having two captains on deck while docking, the city is wrong in blaming him and destroying his name.

The city would still be right in blaming him. I am sure remaining conscious is an expectation if not a rule for the job. If it was a medical condition even more reason for him to lose this particluar job.

9 posted on 12/04/2005 11:43:02 AM PST by On the Road to Serfdom
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To: On the Road to Serfdom

He wasn't the one that was unconscious, the other captain, who was in charge at the time was unconscious. The city claimed that they both should have been in the wheel house.


10 posted on 12/04/2005 11:49:24 AM PST by Eva
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To: On the Road to Serfdom

He wasn't the one that was unconscious, the other captain, who was in charge at the time was unconscious. The city claimed that they both should have been in the pilot house.


11 posted on 12/04/2005 11:50:49 AM PST by Eva
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To: Eva

Thanks, then I agree with you.


12 posted on 12/04/2005 12:13:28 PM PST by On the Road to Serfdom
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