When Notre Dame was hit with a $77,500 fine by the State of Indiana for violations which resulted in Declan Sullivan’s death there was an outcry against the small amount of the fine.
And despite that, Notre Dame still appealed and now will apparently be able to get the situation resolved for a mere $42,000.
In the settlement, the state agreed to reduce the finding against Notre Dame:
The settlement reduces the charge from a knowing violation to a serious violation.
Declan Sullivan, a 20-year-old junior film student from Long Grove, Ill., died Oct. 27 after the hydraulic scissor lift he was on toppled over in high winds while he was filming football practice.
“Notre Dame has said multiple times publicly that it wants to ensure nothing like Declan’s death occurs again on its watch, and that it wants to honor Declan’s memory,” state labor commissioner Lori Torres said. “We believe this unique agreement allows Notre Dame to live up to those statements, and it allows our agency to carry out its primary mission, which is to advance the safety of employees throughout the state.”
Notre Dame said in a statement that it “appreciates the professionalism that (Indiana Occupational Health and Safety Administration) officials have demonstrated throughout this process and is pleased to have reached agreement with them on the safety orders.”
