Plaintiff A.R. sustained a fall from a residential roof during the course of an unpermitted demolition and re-roofing operation in San Mateo, CA, which was overseen by unlicensed contractors hired by the property owners. A.R. suffered multiple severe injuries to the brain, ribs, and lungs. Doctors diagnosed A.R. with several hemorrhagic contusions to multiple parts of the brains, several fractured ribs, a collapsed right lung, pulmonary edema, bilateral lung consolidation, deep vein thrombosis and epilepsy.
A.R. claimed a lifetime of earning loss and medical care due to the extent and severity of his injuries.
Defendants contested the nature and extent of his injuries and argued that A.R. was the cause of the incident.
A.R. was hired under several layers of unlicensed subcontractors which was each a link in the chain responsible for providing labor at the worksite.
Despite the presence of several laborers and deliverymen, no one testified to have witnessed A.R.’s fall from the roof.
A.R. asserted that the property owner was his employer since the homeowner hired unlicensed contractors to do the roofing work. Further, A.R. asserted that the homeowner employer was uninsured and therefore liable for all damages from the incident as an uninsured employer.
Our forensic investigation was able to recreate the fall in a manner that was consistent with the physical evidence documented by law enforcement and which supported a favorable liability argument.
Fortunately, the defendants agreed to a settlement before trial.
Given the severity of injuries, plaintiff’s settlement required and obtained court approval through an application to approve the compromise of a disabled person.
A.R. obtained a gross sum of $1,651,500, which included a policy-limits payment by the property owner of $1,300,000.
