Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a sprawling
mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to manslaughter Wednesday
in the death of a firefighter who was killed battling a blaze when a ceiling
saturated with water collapsed on him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also
owned the home, entered his plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He
was jailed on $2 million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction contractor, and
authorities say the shoddy way he put it together, including putting a
fireplace on the third floor that was designed only for outside use, led to
the fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...ath/53110684/1

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in the first
place?

--
Bobby G.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On Feb 16, 8:24*am, "Robert Green" wrote:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a sprawling
mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to manslaughter Wednesday
in the death of a firefighter who was killed battling a blaze when a ceiling
saturated with water collapsed on him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also
owned the home, entered his plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He
was jailed on $2 million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction contractor, and
authorities say the shoddy way he put it together, including putting a
fireplace on the third floor that was designed only for outside use, led to
the fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...es-firefighter...

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in the first
place?

--
Bobby G.

Very strange story that one. A few points don't make sense. Probably
poor journalism.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

harry wrote:
On Feb 16, 8:24 am, "Robert Green" wrote:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a
sprawling mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to
manslaughter Wednesday in the death of a firefighter who was killed
battling a blaze when a ceiling saturated with water collapsed on
him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also owned the home, entered his
plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was jailed on $2
million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction
contractor, and authorities say the shoddy way he put it together,
including putting a fireplace on the third floor that was designed
only for outside use, led to the fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...es-firefighter...

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in
the first place?

--
Bobby G.

Very strange story that one. A few points don't make sense. Probably
poor journalism.

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

You'd think Harry had upset you, or something?
That's a bit expressive, I'd say.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"HeyBub" wrote in message
...

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On Feb 16, 3:24*am, "Robert Green" wrote:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a sprawling
mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to manslaughter Wednesday
in the death of a firefighter who was killed battling a blaze when a ceiling
saturated with water collapsed on him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also
owned the home, entered his plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He
was jailed on $2 million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction contractor, and
authorities say the shoddy way he put it together, including putting a
fireplace on the third floor that was designed only for outside use, led to
the fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...es-firefighter...

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in the first
place?

--
Bobby G.

I would agree that if he knowingly built the house in a totally unsafe
fashion that caused the fire, he is responsible. However, I'd like
to see other cases where a fire was started by gross negligence
and if they were charged with manslaughter? Like all the folks
who use cigarettes improperly. When those houses burn down
and other people die, do they get charged?

Another interesting one is the house in CT where the 3 children
and grandparents died Xmas from the boyfriend/contractor
throwing out hot ashes in a paper bag. Last I heard the local
police had concluded the investigation about a week ago and
turned everything over to the state attorney general.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

"HeyBub" wrote in message
...
harry wrote:
On Feb 16, 8:24 am, "Robert Green" wrote:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a
sprawling mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to
manslaughter Wednesday in the death of a firefighter who was killed
battling a blaze when a ceiling saturated with water collapsed on
him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also owned the home, entered his
plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was jailed on $2
million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction
contractor, and authorities say the shoddy way he put it together,
including putting a fireplace on the third floor that was designed
only for outside use, led to the fire.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...es-firefighter...

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in
the first place?

--
Bobby G.

Very strange story that one. A few points don't make sense. Probably
poor journalism.

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last
few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually
destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.

Why are you holding back? Tell us how you *really* feel! (-:

--
Bobby G.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

wrote in message
...
On Feb 16, 3:24 am, "Robert Green" wrote:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a sprawling
mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to manslaughter
Wednesday
in the death of a firefighter who was killed battling a blaze when a
ceiling
saturated with water collapsed on him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also
owned the home, entered his plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He
was jailed on $2 million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction contractor,
and
authorities say the shoddy way he put it together, including putting a
fireplace on the third floor that was designed only for outside use, led
to
the fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...es-firefighter...

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in the
first
place?

--
Bobby G.

I would agree that if he knowingly built the house in a totally unsafe
fashion that caused the fire, he is responsible. However, I'd like
to see other cases where a fire was started by gross negligence
and if they were charged with manslaughter? Like all the folks
who use cigarettes improperly. When those houses burn down
and other people die, do they get charged?

There has been a trend somewhat of filing these kinds of charges when
firefighters are killed. If I were the owner/architect/builder I'd
certainly try to drag the AHJ into the picture because he's the one who
apparently (we have no *real* idea from the story) approved this horribly
shoddy work.

Another interesting one is the house in CT where the 3 children
and grandparents died Xmas from the boyfriend/contractor
throwing out hot ashes in a paper bag. Last I heard the local
police had concluded the investigation about a week ago and
turned everything over to the state attorney general.

They might make a manslaughter charge stick with a lot of luck. However,
I've heard about such fires before and some of them happen with ashes that
seem to be totally extinguished. That pretty much removes intent or even
negligence from the case and makes it what it probably was all along: a
stupid accident. I don't think the SAG will get very far with the case,
although a good prosecutor could convict/indict a ham sandwhich given the
right set of circumstances.

Perhaps in both cases the prosecutors are trying to throw a serious scare
into the "perps" with very little real hope of securing a conviction. Just
being charged is going to cost both "perps" a lot of money, so perhaps TPTB
see that as the only real consequences they'll face.

Regarding your question about how other cases have been resolved, there was
a similar case recently in NYC:

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/refere...nyc/index.html

On Dec. 22, 2008, the Manhattan district attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau,
announced manslaughter charges against three construction supervisors and
the subcontractor John Galt Corporation, saying, "Everybody who could have
screwed up, screwed up here." Galt, virtually a shell corporation, was in
charge of the demolition. Although New York City was not named in the
indictment, the Bloomberg administration acknowledged "the failures of our
agencies to inspect and detect the conditions that contributed to the
deaths." As the trial began in late March 2011, lawyers for the defendants .
.. . made clear that the city's culpability in the fire would form a
cornerstone of their arguments . . . the prosecution accused them of being
involved in, or having the knowledge of, the removal of a standpipe in the
basement of the Deutsche Bank building during asbestos abatement . . .
Defense lawyers argued that their clients either had not known that a
section of the standpipe was missing or that they did not have the expertise
to know the significance of the standpipe. The defense also said there was
much blame to go around - from the Fire Department, which failed to conduct
regular inspections on the building, to federal, state and local regulators,
who did not raise any issues regarding the missing section of the standpipe.
In June 2011, Mr. Melofchik was found not guilty on all three counts,
including manslaughter, a day after the same jury acquitted Mr. DePaola of
the same charges. On July 6, a judge acquitted Mr. Alvo and found the Galt
company guilty of reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor.

So, if those guys had a firefighting standpipe removed and were found not
guilty, it's going to be a stretch for the LA owner/builder Becker to get
convicted. It seems to me that removing something like a firefighting water
supply is a lot more culpable than bad design that allowed water to pool on
the roof.

I can easily see a firefighter's union "pushing" the DA to file to pave the
way for a civil trial and the chance to recover money for the firefighter's
family. If you recall, OJ skated on the criminal charges but ended up
paying through the nose at the civil trial.

As I recall from reading about the Galt trial when it was in progress, great
significance was given to the FDNY's failure to inspect the site properly.
Some commentators felt that the FDNY pressed the case against Galt to cover
up their own malfeasance, although burying the whole incident altogether
might have done a better "cover-up" job.

--
Bobby G.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On Feb 16, 2:28*pm, "HeyBub" wrote:
harry wrote:
On Feb 16, 8:24 am, "Robert Green" wrote:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a
sprawling mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to
manslaughter Wednesday in the death of a firefighter who was killed
battling a blaze when a ceiling saturated with water collapsed on
him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also owned the home, entered his
plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was jailed on $2
million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction
contractor, and authorities say the shoddy way he put it together,
including putting a fireplace on the third floor that was designed
only for outside use, led to the fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...es-firefighter....

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in
the first place?

--
Bobby G.

Very strange story that one. *A few points don't make sense. Probably
poor journalism.

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly t

I think you're getting embarassing to your compatriots tiger!

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On 2/16/2012 9:28 AM, HeyBub wrote:
harry wrote:
On Feb 16, 8:24 am, "Robert wrote:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a
sprawling mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to
manslaughter Wednesday in the death of a firefighter who was killed
battling a blaze when a ceiling saturated with water collapsed on
him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also owned the home, entered his
plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was jailed on $2
million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction
contractor, and authorities say the shoddy way he put it together,
including putting a fireplace on the third floor that was designed
only for outside use, led to the fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...es-firefighter...

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in
the first place?

--
Bobby G.

Very strange story that one. A few points don't make sense. Probably
poor journalism.

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.


Take it easy with your brother. You and harry (and home guy) are
identical peas in a pod

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

George wrote:

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you
****in' DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to
make your last few hours on earth the most painful. Your most
useless - actually destructive - organ is you goddamn brain, you
smelly turd.
Take it easy with your brother. You and harry (and home guy) are
identical peas in a pod

No, I'm not.

I don't blame the world's problems on the Jews or America. I don't root for
the downfall of either. My utterances are not the product of a diseased
mind, so corrupted by defect as to be a threat to humanity.

The world needs Harry to be destroyed, cremated, and the ashes scattered.
Take no chances, that's my motto.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On 2/16/2012 9:35 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.


Such harsh words coming from a christian!

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:39:17 -0500, Harry Johnson
wrote:

On 2/16/2012 9:35 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.


Such harsh words coming from a christian!

Well, if you check the facts, you have attributed the above to the
wrong person.

My Lord -- another harry!~

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:04:57 -0800, Oren wrote:

On Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:39:17 -0500, Harry Johnson
wrote:

On 2/16/2012 9:35 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.


Such harsh words coming from a christian!

Well, if you check the facts, you have attributed the above to the
wrong person.

My Lord -- another harry!~

At least that one can afford a shift key.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On 2/16/2012 8:28 AM, HeyBub wrote:
harry wrote:
On Feb 16, 8:24 am, "Robert wrote:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A German architect who built and designed a
sprawling mansion in the Hollywood Hills pleaded not guilty to
manslaughter Wednesday in the death of a firefighter who was killed
battling a blaze when a ceiling saturated with water collapsed on
him.. Gerhard Albert Becker, who also owned the home, entered his
plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was jailed on $2
million bail and ordered to return to court March 1 for a
preliminary hearing.Becker was also the home's construction
contractor, and authorities say the shoddy way he put it together,
including putting a fireplace on the third floor that was designed
only for outside use, led to the fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2...es-firefighter...

So, how does a "deathtrap" like this manage to pass inspection in
the first place?

--
Bobby G.

Very strange story that one. A few points don't make sense. Probably
poor journalism.

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.


Darn HB, tell us how you really feel about Harry. o_O

TDD

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

Oren wrote:
On Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:39:17 -0500, Harry Johnson
wrote:

On 2/16/2012 9:35 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.


Such harsh words coming from a christian!

Well, if you check the facts, you have attributed the above to the
wrong person.

My Lord -- another harry!~

Our resident Christian numbnutz confuses people with his top posting. He
makes matters worse by not indenting the existing text with the
character.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

HeyBub is a Christian? Glad to meet you, brother!

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"Oren" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:39:17 -0500, Harry Johnson
wrote:

On 2/16/2012 9:35 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:

You DARE to comment? You worthless sack of protoplasm. You should be
strapped to a table and your organs removed one by one until you ****in'
DIE. We should start with the most useless ones first to make your last
few
hours on earth the most painful. Your most useless - actually
destructive -
organ is you goddamn brain, you smelly turd.


Such harsh words coming from a christian!

Well, if you check the facts, you have attributed the above to the
wrong person.

My Lord -- another harry!~

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On 2/17/2012 8:05 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:


Well, if you check the facts, you have attributed the above to the
wrong person.

My Lord -- another harry!~



Well if you didn't top post this wouldn't happen.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

Sure, it would!

BTW, you also misattributed.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"Maria Elena Carmelita Romero Guttierez"
wrote in message
...
On 2/17/2012 8:05 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:


Well, if you check the facts, you have attributed the above to the
wrong person.

My Lord -- another harry!~



Well if you didn't top post this wouldn't happen.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:56:35 -0500, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:


BTW, you also misattributed.

.... please, somebody make it stop :-\

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

Yo! Egor! Tie Oren upside down on the water board. Pour ice cold consanants
on him until he loses his vowels.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"Oren" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:56:35 -0500, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:


BTW, you also misattributed.

.... please, somebody make it stop :-\

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On 2/17/2012 4:56 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:


Well if you didn't top post this wouldn't happen.



That's what we been trying to tell ya.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:34:17 -0500, Chastity
wrote:

On 2/17/2012 4:56 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:


Well if you didn't top post this wouldn't happen.



That's what we been trying to tell ya.

So tell us why you are the third person to reply with the wrong
attribution to the wrong PERSON!

Are you that dense? Bats in your belfry?

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On 2/17/2012 3:56 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Sure, it would!

BTW, you also misattributed.


I wonder, is misattributation considered a sexual perversion or a
perfectly natural activity? ^_^

TDD

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

Common reading ability is no longer common.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"Oren" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:34:17 -0500, Chastity
wrote:

On 2/17/2012 4:56 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:


Well if you didn't top post this wouldn't happen.



That's what we been trying to tell ya.

So tell us why you are the third person to reply with the wrong
attribution to the wrong PERSON!

Are you that dense? Bats in your belfry?

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

How much can you misattribute, and just need glasses?

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"The Daring Dufas" wrote in message
...
On 2/17/2012 3:56 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Sure, it would!

BTW, you also misattributed.


I wonder, is misattributation considered a sexual perversion or a
perfectly natural activity? ^_^

TDD

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On 2/17/2012 11:57 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
How much can you misattribute, and just need glasses?

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
...
Common reading ability is no longer common.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..hen I first saw the headline "Man Shot In Parking Lot", I wondered what
"Oren" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:34:17 -0500, Chastity
wrote:
.

"The Daring wrote in message

On 2/17/2012 4:56 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:

Well if you didn't top post this wouldn't happen.


That's what we been trying to tell ya.

Are you that dense? Bats in your belfry?
On 2/17/2012 3:56 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Sure, it would!

BTW, you also misattributed.


W
part of the human body is called he "parking lot"? Is it in the
upper or lower part of the body? o_O


Right over the fracas.

Robert Green wrote:
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"The Daring Dufas" wrote in message
...

I wonder, is misattributation considered a sexual perversion or a
perfectly natural activity? ^_^

TDD
So tell us why you are the third person to reply with the wrong
attribution to the wrong PERSON!

TDD

I'm forced into SS at 62. She had the same thing with her pension.
Both of our pensions have spousal annuities as will SS benefits.

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On 2/17/2012 10:57 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
How much can you misattribute, and just need glasses?


I have very thick eyeglasses and need new ones. ^_^

TDD

Architect pleads not guilty in firefighter's death
 

On Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:17:18 -0500, Hugh Jass wrote:

Tripe.

Do you have something to say?!!

Ever know of a case when a fish is declared a fowl?

Be careful how you answer.