Attorney for RI Physician Cited for Exposing Staff to Coronavirus Blasts U.S. Dept. of Labor
GoLocalProv News Team
Attorney for RI Physician Cited for Exposing Staff to Coronavirus Blasts U.S. Dept. of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the owner-operator of four Rhode Island medical facilities for failing to protect workers from exposure to the coronavirus and implement proper safety measures after six employees tested positive for the virus in the fall of 2020.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to the U.S. Department of Labor, he and his companies face a proposed fine of $136,532
Now, Farina’s attorney is firing back.
High-profile criminal defense attorney Michael J. Lepizzera, Jr. is criticizing the agency's claims and their penalty.
“The citation and the proposed penalties are completely unfounded and are utterly lacking on the facts and the applicable law. The employer vehemently denies the conclusory findings issued by OSHA. The proposed penalty of $136,532.00 is legally excessive and shocks the conscience of any reasonable person. The employer is within the fifteen-day contest period to challenge both the erroneous findings and the outrageously excessive penalty,” said Lepizzera.
“The employer will be challenging this finding at every possible level in order to ensure that justice is done. Dr. Farina is an excellent physician who has well served this community for close to three decades. He did not and would never jeopardize either the safety of the patients who he has meticulously cared for during his long-standing time as a doctor nor would he place his employees in harm’s way,” said Lepizzera.
“I can ensure you that Dr. Farina will be challenging this preliminary OSHA report through all available administrative and judicial venues. I am confident that the proposed OSHA penalty will not survive either administrative or judicial scrutiny,” he added.
Earlier this year, GoLocal reported that the RI Department of Health had taken disciplinary action against Farina. And, after appeal, he was reinstated.