Failed Fireworks At Choir School (UK – criminal)

“A chemistry laboratory technician lost parts of three fingers and sustained a serious internal injury while preparing a highly sensitive explosive for use in a ‘fireworks’ demonstration to a class of children. …The school was fined a total of £26,000 [£8,000 for the section 2 offence and £18,000 for the section 3 offence] and ordered to pay £12,176 costs.”

More Leaking Sewerage in The UK (UK – criminal)

“Yorkshire Water Services Ltd has been fined £600,000 after an ageing sewage pipe burst and killed hundreds of fish in a Wakefield lake.

The company was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday 19 January after pleading guilty to one charge of causing a water discharge that was not authorised by an environmental permit.”

Deadly Propane Explosion  results in $280,000 Fine (Canada – Criminal)

It’s interesting here to note the operation of Ontario’s Provincial Offences Act, which imposes a 25% “victim” surcharge, payable to a government fund for victims of crime.

“Sunrise Propane Energy Group Inc. … operated a propane business … On August 10, 2008, propane was accidentally ignited during a prohibited truck-to-truck transfer of the fuel, resulting in several explosions. A young worker on the night shift who had been employed with the company for a short time was killed in the explosions and fire.”

Nursing Home Therapy Provider To Pay $125M Settlement (USA)

“Contract therapy providers RehabCare Group Inc., RehabCare Group East Inc. and their parent, Kindred Healthcare Inc., have agreed to pay $125 million to resolve a government lawsuit alleging that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to submit false claims to Medicare for rehabilitation therapy services that were not reasonable, necessary and skilled, or that never occurred, the Department of Justice announced today.”