A CARETAKER who turned off an "annoying beep" in a university lab caused nearly ￡1million of damage - and wrecked 25 years of research.
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lab in New York filed a lawsuit against the cleaning company after a super-cold freezer was shut down with key cell cultures and samples inside.
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The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is now suing for damages Credit: Alamy 4
The incident happened at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lab in New York Credit: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 4
The caretaker was employed by Daigle Cleaning Systems Credit: Daigle Cleaning Systems, Inc. 4
The janitor flipped off the power to the storage freezer (stock image) Credit: Getty
Attorney Michael Ginsburg told the Times Union: "People’s behaviour and negligence caused all this.
"Unfortunately, they wiped out 25 years of research."
The freezer held scientific material which had to be kept at -112F (-80C) - and it was designed to set off an alarm if the temperature dropped too low.
But the cleaner, employed by Daigle Cleaning Services, cut electricity to the freezer - and the temperature rose to a toasty -25F, rendering the research and samples useless.
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The freezer alarm was triggered by a mechanical malfunction - and it was due to be repaired on September 21, 2020.
A sign had apparently warned cleaning staff of how to turn off the beeping without ruining the freezer samples - but it was ignored.
The sign read: "No cleaning required in this area.
“You can can press the alarm/test mute button for 5-10 seconds if you would like to mute the sound."
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Thenextmorning, workers in the lab attempted to save the research materials.
"However, a majority of specimens were compromised, destroyed and rendered unsalvageable demolishing more than 20 years of research," the lawsuit states.
Ginsberg said it will take ￡1million to recreate the research - which explored photosynthesis and could have a valuable impact on solar-panel development.
An investigation into the cleaner's action determined he had made an error in reading the instructions.
It said: "At the end of the interview, he still did not appear to believe he had done anything wrong but was just trying to help."
Daigle Cleaning Services has not commented.
The cleaning firm had a $1.4million contract to clean the university facilities in the autumn of 2020.
Last year, a sicko janitor infected an office worker with an incurable STD after dipping his manhood into her water bottle.
Lucio Diaz, 50, was allegedly caught in the act after the victim noticed a foul taste in her drink and set up a spy cam on her desk.
The video - seen by local ABC13 news in Texas - allegedly shows Diaz reaching over to grab the bottle.
He then dipped his manhood in "halfway" before "tilting the bottle back and basically rinsing his penis in my water," the woman said.
She claims the caretaker also urinated in her water and had been doing it for months.
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The married mother of two has since been diagnosed with an incurable sexually transmitted disease - the same one that Diaz tested positive for after his arrest, court papers claim.