New York Lawsuit, 2007: $3,300,000 SettlementA 57 year old maintenance helper sustained third degree burns to over 30% of his body, including his arms, torso and face resulting in permanent scarring and significant limitation in the use of his dominant hand. He also sustained a peroneal neuropathy that resulted in a foot drop. A settlement on the eve of jury selection was reached for $3,300,000. New York Lawsuit, 2006: $4,500,000 VerdictA 24 year old high voltage lineman sustained third, fourth and fifth degree burns to over 12% of his total body surface area, resulting in significant and permanent scarring to both of his arms when the power was restored via an alternate feed to a high voltage switch gear in which he was working and which he had previously been assured was de-energized. The jury awarded $600,000 in part pain and suffering, $900,000 for future medical care and $3,000,000 for future pain and suffering. New York Lawsuit, 2002: $5,600,000 Verdict; $6,000,000 SettlementA 41 year old Con Ed gas mechanic and a 37 year old carpenter sustained severe 3rd degree burns over more than 50% of their respective bodies requiring a combined 100 medical procedures including skin grafts. An explosion occurred due to a negligently maintained liquid propane gas system by the gas company while the two men were attempting to replace a hot water heater in a neighbor's basement. A $6,000,000 settlement was reached during an Appeal, following a $5,600,000 verdict. New York Lawsuit, 2001: $1,250,000 SettlementA 35 year old electrician sustained third degree burns over 80% of his body resulting in death after 3 days of conscious pain and suffering. He was installing a new 480 volt switch transformer for an electrical subcontractor at a shopping mall when it exploded in front of him. Connecticut Superior Court, 2000: $2,000,000 SettlementA 28 year old security guard sustained severe 3rd degree burns over 30% of his body including his face, hands and legs requiring multiple skin graft surgeries when an electrical panel exploded in his face. The building owner provided the security guards with an unmarked electrical closet as a place to hang their uniforms and store a spare master key, without warning or protecting the victim from the risk of electrocution. While the security guard reached for the spare master key from its hook behind an electric panel, the key dropped from his hand and entered into a 480 volt electrical buss bar triggering the explosion. The $2,000,000 settlement was reached on the eve of trial. New York Lawsuit, 1998: $1,300,000 SettlementA 56 year old machinist sustained severe third degree burns to over 38% of his body in an explosion that occurred when he attempted to open the door to the boiler room of the premises sparking an explosion engulfing his body into a ball of flames. The explosion was caused by the negligent installation of a gas fired boiler during an oil to gas boiler conversion in a manufacturing plant by an HVAC subcontractor hired by the building owner. The settlement of $1,300,000 was reached during trial. New York Lawsuit, 1996: $1,360,000 SettlementA 23 year old cable installer sustained severe 3rd degree burns to his non-dominant arm requiring partial amputation of his left hand while lashing fiber optic cable to existing telephone/cable lines when he came into contact with a low hanging primary wire and in violation of the minimum vertical height clearance standards mandated by the National Electric Code. The $1,360,000 settlement was reached on the eve of trial. |
