Garcia v. General Contractor
Type: Construction Negligence
Location: Aurora, IL
Result: Settlement of $2,700,000 + waiver of workers compensation lien of $642,000
Strellis & Field announces the resolution of a construction negligence case involving a union laborer that was a victim of a cave-in incident while performing underground utility work.
Our client was a union construction laborer / bottom man that was installing a 36 inch storm pipe in a 14 foot deep trench in Aurora, IL. An 8 foot trench box had been placed at the top of the deep trench exposing the bottom 6 feet without any cave-in protection. Unfortunately the side wall failed, thus pinning and burying the plaintiff up to his shoulder. Our client sustained neck, back, shoulder and leg injuries requiring multiple surgeries. A lawsuit was brought against the general contractor for failing to competently inspect, supervise and coordinate the work in violation of OSHA and their contractual obligations.
Our client was a union laborer with Chicago Laborers Local 2. In addition to the settlement reached in this case, our client received workers compensation benefits from the day of the accident to the date of the settlement that paid for all of his medical bills and temporary total disability benefits.