Dario Pini, one of Santa Barbara’s most legally fraught landlords, pleaded no contest Friday to California Labor Code violations, was fined $1,000, and sentenced to three years probation after his workers used scaffolding on a hotel renovation project even though it had been red-tagged by Cal/OSHA inspectors.
The work was done last October on the Fiesta Inn & Suites at 1816 State Street. No one was reportedly hurt by working on the scaffolding. Pini’s attorney Larry Powell acknowledged the violation took place, explaining Pini wanted exposed wood covered up in anticipation of larger-than-predicted storm. To satisfy the terms of his probation, Powell said Pini must not violate Cal/OSHA laws for three years. Prosecuting Pini was the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office.