Let’s get one thing straight – in the heart of America’s Midwest, where hard hats and heavy machinery are supposed to symbolise honest graft, there’s a company that’s been grinding away for a century, building landmarks while leaving a trail of bullshit in its wake. F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. Inc., that venerable Indianapolis outfit founded back in 1923, likes to tout itself as a pillar of the community, dishing out commercial projects, healthcare facilities, and infrastructure gigs across the region. But peel back the layers, and what you find is a mess of legal scraps, safety fuck-ups, and shady dealings that scream incompetence – or worse, indifference. And here’s the kicker: they’re tight with Cummins, those Indiana buddies who’ve supplied engines to the world while dodging their own pile of scandals. Wilhelm isn’t just any contractor; they’re a recognised top supplier to Cummins, handling everything from office builds to parking structures and major renovations. Their relationship? It’s the classic hometown hookup – Wilhelm gets the nod for Cummins’ big-ticket projects like the Distribution Business Unit office near Indianapolis Airport, a hefty parking garage, and the recent Columbus office tower spruce-up. These aren’t one-off favours; Wilhelm’s been honoured as a top U.S. supplier by Cummins itself, embedding them deep in that ecosystem.

But why give a shit? Because this makes Wilhelm just another tainted piece of the Cummins puzzle, that corporate juggernaut already hammered by massive emissions cheating allegations – think billions in fines for allegedly installing defeat devices to skirt clean air rules, as spotlighted in endless TCAP coverage. We’re not rehashing Cummins’ laundry list here, but suffice it to say, when your Indiana pals are coughing up record penalties for environmental dodges, it casts a long shadow on everyone in the club. Wilhelm’s controversies? They’re the the hidden decay, the kind that make you wonder how these outfits keep landing gigs while workers pay the price.

The Embezzlement Fiasco: Sticky Fingers in the Office

Picture this: a project manager, trusted with the keys to the kingdom, decides to treat the company coffers like his personal piggy bank. In 2016, Troy L. Sissom, a former Wilhelm hotshot from Greenwood, got nailed for embezzling a staggering $2.7 million through a slick scheme of fake invoices and a shell company he set up to siphon funds. Sissom, that bastard, approved bogus bills for nonexistent materials, pocketing the cash for God knows what – luxury, debts, or just greed. He even stiffed the IRS on $381,000 in taxes. The feds threw the book at him: 41 months in prison and full restitution. How the hell does a company like Wilhelm, with its century of “experience,” let this happen? Internal controls? Apparently as solid as a house of cards. This wasn’t some low-level scam; it was a project manager abusing his position, and it cost Wilhelm millions. Outrageous? You’re damn right – it’s the kind of corporate sloppiness that filters down to higher prices and shoddy work for everyone else.

Labour Disputes: Union Brawls and Boycotts

Wilhelm’s not just fighting in courtrooms; they’ve tangled with unions in ways that reek of old-school hardball. Back in the 1990s, they hauled Laborers International Union of North America, Local 795, into federal court over an alleged illegal secondary boycott. The union picketed Wilhelm’s sites to pressure neutral employers, violating the National Labor Relations Act. Wilhelm won damages, though some got remanded, but it highlights the tension – workers pushing for rights, and the company pushing back hard. These aren’t friendly negotiations; they’re battles that leave scars, and in an industry where labour is everything, it speaks volumes about Wilhelm’s approach. Fuck with the workers, and you fuck with the foundation – but apparently, that’s just business in Indianapolis.

Contract Chaos: Lawsuits Piling Up Like Bricks

If there’s one thing Wilhelm excels at, it’s racking up courtroom time over contracts gone sour. Take the 1998 dust-up with Controlled Demolition Incorporated over a demolition job in Indianapolis – Wilhelm sued for breaches causing delays and extra costs, and the Seventh Circuit partially backed them. And don’t forget the 2017 insurance wrangle with Secura Insurance, stemming from a subcontractor’s worker injury – Wilhelm wanted coverage as an additional insured, but the courts dissected it like a bad blueprint. These aren’t rare blips; they’re a pattern of disputes with subcontractors, owners, and insurers, often over negligence or breaches. It’s exhausting – and expensive – but Wilhelm keeps rolling, leaving a trail of legal bills and bad blood.

Personal Injury Nightmares: When Negligence Hits Home

Wilhelm’s record on injury claims is enough to make you rage. In 1991, ironworker Welter sued after falling from a scaffold on a Wilhelm site, claiming safety lapses; the Indiana Court of Appeals weighed in on liability. Then, in 2014, Christina Haehn took them to court after her horse got spooked by a truck tailgate slam on a Wilhelm project, causing her injury – the court affirmed summary judgment for Wilhelm on some claims but remanded others. These cases scream carelessness; workers and bystanders paying the price for alleged oversights. It’s not just bad luck – it’s a system that prioritises deadlines over decency, and that’s bullshit in an industry where one slip can end lives.

Safety Shambles: OSHA’s Frequent Flyers

Now, the real outrage: Wilhelm’s safety record is a goddamn disaster. OSHA has slapped them with citations multiple times, like in 2009 for fall protection lapses ($4,500 fine) and other violations. During a 2009 concrete pour at the Louisville arena, a formwork collapse drew scrutiny, echoing past accidents. That same year, at the Indiana Convention Center expansion, a worker’s death led to $9,000 fines for Wilhelm and another firm over safety breaches. These aren’t anomalies; they’re repeat offences in an industry where falls kill. How many warnings does it take before these pricks get their act together? Workers deserve better than this cavalier crap.

Recent Ruckus: The Andretti Headache

Even lately, Wilhelm can’t stay out of trouble. In 2023, they stepped in as lead contractor on Andretti Global’s new headquarters in Fishers, Indiana, after construction halted amid a lawsuit from the original developer against Andretti for alleged non-payment and breaches. Wilhelm resumed work, but the mess – $11.3 million in claims – underscores how they get pulled into high-profile dramas. It’s not their fault directly, but it fits the pattern: big projects, big problems.

In the end, F.A. Wilhelm Construction isn’t some rogue operator; they’re the establishment, woven into Indiana’s fabric with buddies like Cummins. But this litany of embezzlement, disputes, injuries, and safety violations? It’s infuriating. These companies build our world, yet they cut corners that hurt real people. Time to call them out – no more excuses, no more passes. If you’re in the game, play clean, or get the hell out.

Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project

Supplier Series : F.A. Wilhelm Construction – Awww Indiana Friends