Carmine Goncalves of Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP obtained a $5,900,000 settlement for a then 34-year-old union construction worker who was hit by a falling piece of plywood which had been inadequately secured to the ceiling.
As a result of the accident, the plaintiff suffered injuries to his knee, shoulder, ankle, neck, and back. He required a one-level back surgery with hardware placement and three arthroscopic procedures.
Given the clear liability of the defendants in failing to provide plaintiff an adequate work environment, Carmine was able to resolve the matter while his motion for summary judgment was pending. The matter settled at a private mediation. The motion was granted a week after the settlement.