Construction Accident Case Settles for $825,000 During Jury Selection
Gerald H. Clark, Esq. settled a construction accident case for $825,000 during jury selection in Middlesex County, NJ. Plaintiff was working as a general laborer on a re-roofing job in Harrison, New Jersey. Suddenly and without warning the roof collapsed beneath him and he fell 25 feet to a hard surface. His injuries included a fractured pelvis.
Construction Accident in New Jersey
The roofing work was part of an overall renovation project of a 5-acre industrial site in Harrison, New Jersey. When the tenant of this property, Harrison Alloys, Inc., went bankrupt and abandoned the property, the landlord, Harrison Realty, undertook a major renovation project to get the property in shape for future tenants.
The defendant, Harrison Realty, argued that since they were the property owner who did not interfere in the manner and means of the roofing work, they had no duty to the plaintiff. Through vigorous discovery, however, the plaintiff’s attorneys were able to show that although Harrison Realty was as a technical matter the property owner, they were in fact serving as their own general contractor on this project. Mr. Clark stated, “Once we were able to prove they were serving as their own general contractor, liability attached. As the de facto general contractor, they had a common-law duty to maintain a safe workplace and ensure compliance with OSHA.” He further commented, “We were prepared to present to the jury unusually overwhelming evidence that Harrison Realty had no policies or procedures with respect to safety on this job site.”
The matter settled during jury selection before a Superior Court judge in Middlesex County, New Jersey.
