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About POGO's Federal Contractor Misconduct Database (FCMD)
The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »
Ranking: 77
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private, coeducational university with a core emphasis on theoretical, applied, and interdisciplinary scientific and technological research. Its reputation also extends into the social sciences, including economics, linguistics, and political science. MIT's endowment and annual research expenditures are among the largest of any American university. MIT counts among its graduates and faculty at least 63 Nobel Laureates and 29 MacArthur Fellows.
Federal Contract $: $ 984.7m
Total Number of Instances: 7
Total Misconduct dollar amount: $ 6.7m
Instances of Misconduct
1. Guy v. MIT (Drug-Related Wrongful Death)
MIT student Richard A. Guy, Jr. died in his dormitory from asphyxiation by nitrous oxide inhalation on August 31, 1999. His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against MIT in August 2002, alleging that, although Richard was not blameless, the school's lack of dormitory supervision and poor coordination among health services were the proximate causes of his death. Both sides settled the suit out of court in June 2005, establishing the Rick Guy Fund to provide a minimum of 10 years of funding for at least five incoming freshmen to attend pre-orientation programs.... more»
2. Krueger v. MIT (Alcohol-Related Wrongful Death)
In September 2000, MIT paid $6 million to the family of student Scott S. Krueger, who died in 1997 of alcohol poisoning after engaging in excessive drinking at his fraternity house. Former MIT President Charles M. Vest publicly apologized to the family for MIT’s role in Krueger’s death. Of the settlement total, $4.75 million was for compensatory damages and the remaining $1.25 million went toward establishing scholarships in Krueger’s memory.... more»
3. Violations of Environmental Laws
As a result of the operations of its laboratories and research facilities, MIT generates and stores various hazardous wastes and other toxic substances. In 1998, the EPA conducted an inspection at MIT to evaluate compliance with air, water and waste regulations. While inspectors did not find any alarming conditions, they found numerous violations indicating inadequate housekeeping practices and a need to improve its environmental management system. In April 2001, the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division settled a case with MIT involving violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA). MIT agreed to pay a $150,000 civil penalty and institute an environmental management system and three other environmental projects costing $405,000: a storm water management system, a web-based compliance assistance program, and a collaboration with the local public schools to develop and implement an environmental curriculum.... more»
4. Shin v. MIT (Accident-Related Wrongful Death)
On April 3, 2006, MIT and the parents of student Elizabeth H. Shin announced that they reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against university administrators and doctors. Shin died in her dormitory room in April 2000 from self-inflicted burns. The Cambridge Fire Department and the Suffolk County medical examiner ruled the death a suicide, but both parties later came to an agreement that the death was a tragic accident. The suit Shin's parents filed in 2002 sought over $27 million in damages.... more»
5. Research Reactor Radiation Exposure
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission launched a special inspection of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's research nuclear reactor after MIT reported a worker at the facility may have been exposed to an excessive dose of radiation. On October 17, 2007, MIT reported that the worker had a radiation measurement of four rems for the period between July 1 and September 30, or 80 percent of the total radiation a person can be safely exposed to in a year. In December 2007, the NRC cited MIT for two violations at the facility: "One violation relates to the failure to conduct radiological surveys that are reasonable under the circumstances to evaluate the magnitude and extent of radiation levels and the potential radiological hazards. The other violation relates to the failure to provide adequate training in the health protection problems associated with exposure to radiation and/or radioactive material, in precautions or procedures to minimize exposure, and in the purposes and functions of protective devices employed."... more»
6. Carpenter v. MIT (Suicide-Related Wrongful Death)
On April 30, 2001, MIT student Julia M. Carpenter died in her dormitory room from what the Suffolk County medical examiner determined was a suicide, caused by acute cyanide poisoning. In June 2003, her parents filed a $20 million wrongful death lawsuit, charging that MIT and various employees were negligent in failing to prevent their daughter's suicide. In September 2006, MIT and the Carpenters reached a settlement, the details of which were not released to the public.... more»
7. Hazardous Materials Shipping Violations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a $175,000 civil penalty against MIT for alleged violations of Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations. The FAA alleged that MIT submitted a package containing lithium batteries to FedEx for transportation by air from Cambridge to Seattle in August 2009. The package, which caught fire at a FedEx sorting facility, was not properly labeled and marked as containing hazardous materials. In addition, the FAA alleged that MIT employees were not properly trained and tested to handle hazardous materials.... more»
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