Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP recovered $700,000 for a 43-year-old Asian male sign installer in a settlement prior to trial. The sign installer fell from a 16-foot extension ladder at a renovation site while he was removing a 20-foot-long sign from the building. He suffered from a fractured ankle and required surgery.
New York Labor Law 240 states the following:
“All contractors and owners and their agents, except owners of one and two-family dwellings who contract for but do not direct or control the work, in the erection, demolition, repairing, altering, painting, cleaning or pointing of a building or structure shall furnish or erect, or cause to be furnished or erected for the performance of such labor, scaffolding, hoists, stays, ladders, slings, hangers, blocks, pulleys, braces, irons, ropes, and other devices which shall be so constructed, placed and operated as to give proper protection to a person so employed.”
Prior to filing the lawsuit, our construction accident attorneys attempted to negotiate a settlement with the tenant, who had acted as the owner’s agent; however, the tenant refused to settle. Our firm entered a motion for Summary Judgment based on the fact that the tenant violated New York Labor law by failing to provide the proper equipment for our client. A summary judgment motion is an argument that the other party has no case and requests that the court decide the case based on the facts submitted. The court decided in favor of the Summary Judgment, and the case was settled through mediation, which awarded our client $700,000 in compensation for losses.
New York labor laws offer substantial protection for construction workers. If you suffer injury in a construction accident, you should seek legal advice and find out about your rights to recover damages. At Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP , we offer a free initial consultation to discuss your accident and the prospects of pursuing a case.