Santa Clara, California – The accusation of an agricultural company owner in Watsonville has shaken Santa Clara County following the tragic death of a worker during their shift in 2020.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has formally charged Willoughby Farms and its owner, 50-year-old David Willoughby, following the unfortunate death of 32-year-old Carlos Jiménez Cruz.
According to official reports, the tragic incident occurred on October 15, 2020, when Cruz lost his life in a fatal accident while performing maintenance on a 16,000-pound spinach harvester. The worker suffered a fatal accident when his clothing became entangled in a rotating shaft of the machinery, leading to asphyxiation.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen emphasized the importance of corporate responsibility in ensuring the safety of employees. “It is regrettable and criminal when a person is injured or killed in their workplace due to the employer’s lack of attention to safety,” Rosen stated in an official release.
Willoughby’s appearance before the court marked a milestone in this case. The charges filed include involuntary manslaughter and other related offenses. Prosecutors have also highlighted that the company and its affiliate face criminal charges, including failure to provide adequate training to employees and failure to secure dangerous parts of the machinery.
It has been confirmed that Willoughby could face up to four years in prison for the charge of involuntary manslaughter in Santa Clara, while Willoughby Farms is subject to multimillion-dollar fines due to three violations of the Labor Code.
The case has highlighted poor working conditions and the importance of maintaining strict safety protocols in work environments, emphasizing the need for greater awareness of the protection and welfare of workers.
Is your employer violating labor laws? Have they failed to maintain a safe workspace? Together, we can put an end to unfair labor practices and ensure that California workers receive the fair treatment and labor safety they deserve.
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