Washburn files lawsuit

Washburn University has released a statement claiming they are in pursuit of a lawsuit against Moto Construction Company for the damages done to Whiting Fieldhouse on November 16.

Curtis Conley, a crane operator for Moto Construction, had a heart attack while lifting a statue onto the rooftop of Whiting Fieldhouse causing the hoist of the crane and the statue to be fall into the northeast side of the building.

At this moment, Washburn has estimated its’ total cost for repairs to be $2.3 million.

“We are just devastated by this loss but mostly because it could have been avoided,” said Michael Wilhoite, Washburn University spokesperson.

Moto Construction released the information that Conley had experienced previous health issues that should have prevented him from operating heavy machinery.

At this time Moto Construction declined to comment on the lawsuit.

There have been six deaths total in regard to this incident.

“This should have been a pretty standard procedure,” said Wilhoite. “We had been reassured by different members of Moto Construction that this was a simple movement and would take less than 30 minutes. Now, there has been a life time’s worth of damages to those who have lost a loved one.”

Although a lawsuit seems plausible to Washburn administration, some students disagree.

“It was an accident and I think everyone involved understands that,” said Inspiron Plate, sophomore at Washburn University. “Although it is tragic and very unfortunate, no one knew the operator was going to have a heart attack. I just feel the lawsuit is a little extreme at this junction.”

Others, however, feel it is most appropriate at this time.

“We need to have a call to action,” said Kate Hampson, Director of University Relations. “We are expected to do something. We have a newly renovated building nearly destroyed due to an incident that could have easily been prevented.”

The lawsuit will seek monetary benefits for the Washburn campus and those who lost a loved one.

“We are just trying to right a wrong that was done but this is no way lessens our sympathy toward the crane operator’s family,” said Hampson. “We understand they lost a loved one too, it was all just bad timing.”

Stress caused heart attack

This was Curtis Conley’s second heart attack in two years. According to medics, Conley’s stress was what brought on this second attack, this time fatal

According to Curtis’s sister Katie Clark, he suffered from much stress after the loss of their mother one year ago this December. “Once our mother passed away, I noticed a dramatic change in how Curtis went about his everyday actions; it’s been really hard on both of us. He should have taken more time off work,” said Clark.

Stress is one of many symptoms that can bring on a heart attack. Most attacks occur as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). This is the buildup of plaque on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. Eventually, a section of the plaque can break open causing a blood clot to form at the site. The attack itself occurs when the clot becomes so large, blood flow is restricted.

Press Release: Construction worker dies in collapse

Contact Information:
Michael Wilhoite
1801 SW Jewell Ave
Topeka, Kan. 66618
w: 785-670-0000
c: 785-555-5555
michaelw16@gmail.com

For Immediate Release:

 TOPEKA, KS- After the Whiting collapse at Washburn University a construction worker for Moto Construction was pronounced dead at 10 p.m. central standard time. 

The construction worker, James Tunnel, was found in the rubble not long after the collapse.  He was last seen on top of Whiting when Curtis Conley the crane operator lost control of the crane and it slammed into Whiting causing the collapse and injuries. 

Tunnel was found soon after the collapse and was transported to Stormont Vail immediately after and receive intensive care but was unable to hold on due to loss of blood.

"This is a tragedy and our family is taking this very hard, but we are sorry for everybody that was involved including their families," said Madison Tunnel wife of James Tunnel.  "It's hard to accept what has happened as reality but I am trying to be strong for my children."

Tunnel is survived by his three sons, James Tunnel Jr. 14, Greg Tunnel 12, and Matt Tunnel 6 and his wife Madison of Topeka, Kan. 

"Our company is devastated in the losses of Curtis Conley and James Tunnel and our hearts go out to their families," said the owner of Moto Construction Robert Lundy.  "Both of those men were great employees and great men who took care of their families."

Moto Construction is holding a candle light memorial for the two men that passed on Saturday at noon outside the main plant in Topeka, Kan. The Washburn family and Moto Construction are going to continue to work together to try and help the families of the people involved in the collapse. 

Number of patrons in Whiting released

After the collapse of the east wall of Whiting field house all but two people have been found. 

Whiting has a capacity of 2,500 but at the time of the collapse there were only 88 students, faculty, staff and visitors present at 4:45 central standard time.  On Thursday's from 4:00 to 5:15 there is a lifetime wellness class that is located upstairs and a weight lifting class downstairs in the weight room.  Each of these classes were effected by the collapse. 

In the lifetime wellness class there were 23 students and one professor present at the time.  20 students escaped from the gym safely while three bodies were found dead.  The professor was also injured in the collapse.  Each of these students families have been notifed and our deepest apologies go out to these families and we are continueing to search for anybody else that is missing.

In the class downstairs that was taking place in the weight room had 18 people present and 1 professor during the collapse.  Some of the students participating in the weight room were injured while nobody was killed.  Each of these students are being cared for at Stormont Vail.  These families have been notified. 

While both the gym and weight room were damage there were also seven offices damaged on the northeast side of the builidng but nobody was in these offices.

Press Release: Washburn suing Moto Construction

Contact Information:
Jill Lira
1801 SW Jewell Ave
Topeka, Kan. 66618
w: 785-670-0000
c: 785-555-5555jlira@wupr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2010

TOPEKA, KS- Following the new information regarding Curtis Conley, the crane operator for Moto Construction, Washburn is taking legal action in regards the incident that occurred at Whiting Field House on campus Nov. 16, 2010.

Washburn believes this is an appropriate step to take in an effort to prevent this from reoccurring again or at other campuses.

“We feel as though this is an important step to take in hopes to prevent any event similar to this to happen again,” said President of Washburn Jerry Farley. “There were prior incidents that in the crane operator’s medical history that should have revoked his privileges to operate heavy machinery. We feel in the wrong and feel as though this could have been prevented.”

Washburn has estimated the damages to be at $2.6 million at this point in time. No other event of this magnitude has occurred at Washburn and by filing a law suit, no future events due to this cause will occur again.

Archive: Schurig to be enshrined in copper

A man’s greatest accomplishments may occur when he is immortalized in a statue, for Craig Schurig this accomplishment is becoming a reality.

On Thursday November 16, a statue of Schurig will be placed on the north east corner of Whiting Field House as a reminder for his time as head football coach at Washburn University.

“Coach Shurig has implemented a lot of traditions that will be remembered forever here at Washburn,” said Jerry Farley, President of Washburn. “Having a statue of him is very important to Washburn athletics and to our community.”

Although Schurig felt like he was making a difference, he never thought a statue would be placed on campus in his honor.

“I am completely at a loss for words,” said Schurig. “I have loved coaching at Washburn, it has been a great honor and I cannot wait to take the future head on and see what our program can do.”

Schurig has been the head football coach for eight seasons. While under Schurig, the Ichabod football program has made improvements to Yager Stadium. There is now an artificial turf and there have been several equipment upgrades in the weight room.

“There have been several changes and renovations that have occurred under my coaching term,” said Schurig. “I feel like they have really brought our team and community together.”

In the summer of 2009, the Ichabods moved into a renovated football locker room and a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center in a renovated Whiting Fieldhouse as part of a $7 million project.

“Having proper facilities is a huge to deal to any program,” said Schurig. “We love our new home in Whiting.”

Due to the importance of Whiting Fieldhouse’s involvement in particular with the football team, members of the football booster club thought it was the most sentimental location for his statue.

“So many changes have happened on campus under Schurig,” said Yo Yo Mann, president of Washburn’s football booster club. “We just felt as though it would be a great location that would help him be remembered even more.”

Donations were given for the statue from the members of the booster club as well as previous alum. The statue cost $73,000.

“If you have ever been to a game, Coach Schurig can get pretty into it,” said Ronald McDowellize, senior linebacker. “There is a specific look he gives and he always points his finger. To have that be the pose of the statue is perfect.”

There will be an unveiling ceremony Friday morning at 9 a.m. to the public.

“To have a statue was enough but a ceremony will really get to me,” said Schurig. “I am proud to be an Ichabod.”

Whiting damage worse than expected

The structural damage that Whiting Field House obtained when it was struck by the hoist boom of a crane is worse that first anticipated.

The hoist, along with a statue of a Washburn football coach Craig Schurig, struck the east wall of Whiting yesterday. People inside the building were evacuated and search and rescue workers are still at work looking for survivors and bodies in the rubble.

At first assessment structural engineers thought the damage to Whiting was moderate and would be able to be fixed in a month. However, after extensive assessment of the building more than three quarters of the east wall has to be rebuilt due to severe cracking in the brick structure and collapse of more than half of the wall. Also, there is damage to nine offices, that was once thought to be only seven. Five of those offices will have to be completely rebuilt.

Damage to the roof of the weight room is the same as first assessed and will have to be repaired before use of the room can resume. The new Whiting Gymnasium will not be in use until the construction of the new wall is complete, which can take up to six months, depending on weather conditions.

As of now, classes will resume on Monday in Petro Allied Health Center and across the rest of campus. Classes that were to be taking place in the Whiting Gymnasium are being moved to Lee Arena, were classes will have to share the gym. All classes located in the 80-seat lecture all will be moved to Henderson 100 and a schedule will be posted no later than Saturday afternoon. Also, all professors and Washburn staff or faculty who have offices located in Whiting, damaged or not, will be moved outside to portable offices that are being brought in.

The suspected cost of the damage is $2.3 million and clean-up has started in correlation with search and rescue workers looking for missing persons. The first area expected to be done is the weight room’s roof and that will be done in two weeks, as it had the least amount of damage.

The assessment was done by constructional and structural engineers at Walker Brothers Construction. For more information, check back here for updates.