It’s easy, at least according to Attorney General Dick Blumenthal, after looking at the debacle that is called the I-84. If we go review the video tape on this one, or in this case the Courant:
The I-84 problems, which have been widely reported for nearly a year, range from bad surveys to shoddy workmanship. Bridges were built incorrectly, an access ramp was mislocated, light poles were poorly welded, guardrails were insufficiently anchored, the concrete median barrier is flaking and the drainage system is largely inoperable.
And so, Blumenthal plans to go after some DOT employees with lawsuits.
More individuals, including state Department of Transportation employees, could be added as targets of a state lawsuit seeking to recover money from the disastrous I-84 widening project, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal told state legislators Friday.
Blumenthal, who already has sued two private contractors involved in the highway redesign mess, told participants in a legislative hearing that an investigation by his office has learned that state transportation employees “wanted to be more aggressive” in identifying flaws in the project “but were prevented from doing so.”
In another case, he said, his office has learned that a state transportation official was warned of specific construction problems by a credible source but apparently ignored the warning.
“At least one DOT official was called by a licensed professional saying, in effect, `You have to go look at this section of I-84 because you will be astonished and appalled,’” Blumenthal told members of the legislature’s transportation and public safety committees at the conclusion of a two-day hearing.
He did not identify parties to the call but said after completing his testimony that the call was placed by a professional not employed by the transportation department.
“There were alarm bells, red flags, that perhaps were ignored by DOT officials,” Blumenthal told legislators. “Some have referred to it as a culture or a mind-set. I’m interested in whether or not there is responsibility that demands accountability through legal action.”
Blumenthal is limited to filing civil litigation against parties who have caused the state financial harm through the highway redesign in Waterbury and Cheshire. But he said he is cooperating with the FBI, which is conducting a criminal investigation, and he will provide the bureau with any evidence of criminal wrongdoing that his office finds.
Which made me think that maybe the way to enforce some sort of financial accountability of the BOE and Corda and especially Opdhal was law, or rather law suits. Is this a case for the AG? Maybe. Maybe it can be a civil lawsuit filed for gross negligence of budgetary reporting. I think I might have to take a look at just want the obligations are of Corda regarding financial reports. Corda claims that there’s nothing he can do, nothing he has to do, and so he does what he wants. But maybe, all we really need is law, law, law. And a little help from a few lawyer friends.
source: Courant:, Lawsuit On I-84 Might Widen,
