$3.2 Million Judgment for Construction Worker

A 38 year old Polish construction worker who did not have legal papers to work was injured during demolition of a building on the defendant's property. The floor the construction worker was standing on broke causing him to fall 12 feet onto the cement floor below. A co-worker also fell through the floor and landed on top of the plaintiff. The plaintiff sustained a fractured T12 vertebrae which shattered into many pieces and lodged into his spinal canal, causing nerve injury. The T12 vertebrae necessary to support the spinal column compressed and changed from a rectangular shape to a triangular shape, causing mechanical axial pain as well. Additionally, the plaintiff sustained a lower back injury that caused a disc herniation and nerve injury.  The plaintiff could not return to work, is permanently disabled, and will require future surgeries to his thoracic and lumbar region.  The jury rendered a verdict that resulted in a $3.2 million dollar judgment after interest was accounted for by the court.  The personal injury construction accident attorneys at BBNR made a motion to the court to determine liability against the defendant as a matter of law.  The motion was denied initially but after a second motion, the court granted the relief and found the defendant at fault as a matter of law.  The only issue for the jury at trial was how much money to award the plaintiff.