Big Dig indictment renews focus on state's manslaughter laws

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BOSTON --Of all the numbers tossed around at the announcement of the first criminal indictment from last year's fatal Big Dig tunnel ceiling collapse, the most shocking might have been the maximum penalty: $1,000.

That's the most that can be levied against a company in Massachusetts if found guilty of involuntary manslaughter -- the charge Attorney General Martha Coakley brought against a Big Dig epoxy supplier Wednesday, even as she conceded the fine "does not seem to be even close to an appropriate punishment."
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The $1,000 manslaughter fine dates back nearly two centuries, according to researchers in Coakley's office.
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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/08/09/big_dig_indictment_renews_focus_on_states_manslaughter_laws/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News

I certainly hope there is a plan here to get more than a token $1000 and a long term goal of fixing this token punishment for corporations faced with a crime that results in the death of a person.