A New York City construction worker who was permanently disabled on the job has settled a lawsuit for $1.5 million against a construction company and three real estate companies that owned the site.
News sources report that 44-year-old James Morrow, a foreman, was partially blinded in one eye at a Manhattan worksite on Aug. 29, 2014. The injury occurred when Morrow’s right eye came into contact with a clamp wedge spike that was part of the support jacks being used to support a first-floor deck when concrete was poured.
Morrow was immediately transported to a hospital for treatment. Despite undergoing a total of three eye surgeries, he suffered a permanent partial loss of vision in his right eye.
Morrow sued Landmark Realty LLC, Run 178 LLC and Raber Enterprises LLC, which owned the building, as well as Flintlock Construction Services, the general contractor, in Manhattan state Supreme Court.
Morrow’s attorney successfully argued that the support jack should have had a hard plastic mushroom cap on it to prevent injuries. He alleged the defendants failed to provide Morrow with a safe place to work and allowed a "dangerous and defective condition" to exist.
The case reportedly has settled for $1.5 million.