Shulman & Hill attorneys secured summary judgment on liability for an injured temporary laborer and successfully opposed the defendants’ appeal before reaching a $6.5 million settlement.
New York City, NY – Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers attorneys Alex Shulman and J.J. Hill secured a $6.5 million settlement on behalf of a temporary laborer who suffered severe neck and back injuries after falling from an A-frame ladder on a New York construction site.
The case, filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, arose after the plaintiff was standing on an A-frame ladder when it suddenly shifted, causing him to fall. The worker sustained significant injuries to his neck and back that ultimately required surgery.
Alex Shulman and J.J. Hill pursued the case under New York Labor Law § 240(1), which requires covered owners, contractors, and their agents to provide certain safety devices, including ladders, that are constructed, placed, and operated to give workers proper protection from elevation-related hazards.
The litigation became an even greater challenge when the defendants produced a non-party former employee who testified that the plaintiff had been improperly standing on the top platform of the A-frame ladder when the accident occurred. According to the defense, the plaintiff’s positioning caused the ladder to shift and fall.
Despite that testimony, Shulman and Hill secured a summary judgment on liability under Labor Law § 240(1). The ruling established liability before trial, allowing the case to proceed with that issue resolved. The defendants appealed the decision, and Alex Shulman and J.J. Hill opposed the appeal while continuing to prepare the case for trial.
“From the beginning, we remained focused on the evidence, the law, and what our client had endured because of this accident,” said Alex Shulman. “When the defense challenged liability and appealed the court’s ruling, J.J. and I continued pushing the case forward and preparing to take it to trial.”
The appeal remained pending as the scheduled trial date approached. Shulman & Hill continued litigating the matter until the parties ultimately reached a $6.5 million settlement.
“This case required persistence at every stage,” said J.J. Hill. “Our client suffered serious injuries, and we were prepared to keep litigating until we achieved a resolution that recognized the significance of what happened to him.”
The settlement reflects Shulman & Hill’s approach to complex construction accident litigation, including cases involving disputed accounts of how an accident occurred. The firm conducts in-depth investigations and prepares cases with the expectation that litigation may continue through trial.
Shulman & Hill represents construction workers and other injured New Yorkers in personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. The firm has recovered more than $1 billion for clients since its founding in 2013.
About Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers
Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers is a New York personal injury law firm representing injured workers and accident victims throughout New York City. Founded in 2013, the firm has recovered more than $1 billion for clients and brings more than 200 years of combined experience to personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. Headquartered in Manhattan with offices across New York City, Shulman & Hill handles complex cases involving construction accidents, workplace injuries, and other serious injuries.