Attorney Carmine Goncalves obtained a $1,800,000 settlement for a then 27-year-old construction worker from Brazil who was struck by a concrete form that fell from a recently poured wall. He claimed that someone on the other side of the wall had removed a support rod. The defense counsel argued that there were inconsistent versions of how the accident occurred because the initial clinic records reported that the client was injured moving a refrigerator. Carmine produced the client's testimony and a coworker's, who each confirmed that the company forced injured workers to lie about their accidents and sent their own people with the clients to interpret for them.
As a result of the accident, the plaintiff suffered multiple injuries, including a herniated disc in his lumbar spine that required two separate surgical procedures, with the latter involving the placement of painful hardware.
Given the potential for a liability verdict against the defendants in failing to provide the plaintiff with any safety, Carmine resolved the matter at a private mediation.