$5.7 Million Recovery for Firm Client

Our client and three co-workers were working on the third floor of a construction project when suddenly, without warning, the floor collapsed burying the workers in concrete, steel, and construction debris. Our client was conscious, buried up to his neck partially impaled on a piece of rebar and could not move. Fearing for their own safety, rescue workers hesitated to help. Only after a civilian began digging the plaintiff out were the rescue workers shamed to assist.

Our client suffered numerous, severe injuries as a result of the event. He was hospitalized for approximately seven weeks before being discharged to a rehab facility where he remained for several more weeks and then discharged to homecare.

Prior to the accident, he had worked most of his adult life in the construction field. He was a proud member of the Laborer’s Union. The nature and extent of his injuries meant that he could not return to work in construction.

Since we were retained shortly after the accident and before the accident scene had been altered or demolished, we were able to stop the planned demolition and begin a prompt investigation. We retained an engineering expert on our client’s behalf. Our engineer fully inspected and photographed the site. We arranged a meeting with the OSHA investigator who had been on the scene the day of the accident. Both our engineer and OSHA confirmed a defect in the manufacture of one of the structural components of the building. As a result, we brought suit shortly thereafter against the general contractor, the fabricator, the structural subcontractor, and the inspection company.

In preparation for the trial of the case, we aggressively pursued information about the cause of the collapse as well as our client’s present and future medical treatment. We worked closely with our client’s treating physicians. We retained a life care expert to testify concerning future medical care. We retained an economist to project our client’s lost income and future medical expenses.

After completion of the discovery phase of the suit, we presented a demand package to the defendants detailing and supporting our analysis of liability and damages. The defendants agreed to mediate the issues prior to trial. Following three full days of mediation, spanning several weeks, we were able to resolve the case in the amount of $5.7 million.

This matter was litigated by partners Bill Ahern and Bill Hunt.