Thursday, 4:30 PM
Special prosecutor tapped to lead criminal investigation of Big Dig
(AP Photo/Bizuayehu Tesfaye)
Paul F. Ware Jr.(right) was appointed today by Attorney General Martha Coakley (left) to lead the investigation of the collapse of a Big Dig tunnel last July.
By Mac Daniel and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today that she has appointed a special prosecutor to oversee the criminal investigation of the Big Dig tunnel collapse last July that killed a Jamaica Plain woman.
Paul F. Ware Jr. was named a special assistant attorney general to lead the probe initiated by Coakley’s predecessor, Thomas F. Reilly.
"Paul is one of the brightest and most talented attorneys in the Commonwealth," Coakley said in statement. "This investigation is complicated and it is crucial for the sake of the residents of Massachusetts that we complete it well and quickly."
Milena Del Valle, 38, died on July 10 when several concrete ceiling panels fell on her car as she and her husband were driving to Logan International Airport.
Ware is a partner and head of the litigation department at Goodwin Procter, said Melissa Sherman, a spokeswoman for the attorney general. He also served as the prosecutor in the Commission on Judicial Conduct investigation of Superior Court Judge Maria Lopez, who resigned from the bench in 2003.
"The attorney general made it clear that she intends to pursue the investigation in this matter and bring it to a conclusion which is both fair and consistent with the public interest," Ware said in a statement. "That is an important mission and I am pleased to become a part of it."
In a press conference today, Coakley qualified statements she made in December before taking office when she indicated that it could be difficult to bring criminal charges in a complex case involving several corporations.
"What I expressed was concern about reaching a conclusion about whether there would be criminal charges," Coakley said today. She added that she hoped to make a final determination about criminal charges in three or four months.
"We are not there yet," Coakley said."Don't rule it in, don't rule it out."
"What our focus is now, is on the tunnel collapse," she continued. "But when that decision has been reached as to whether charges should be issued, we will be in a position I believe to go immediately forward with the cost recovery and damage recovery."
Material from the Associated Press is included in this report.
