Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky Secures $33 Million Settlement in Crane Accident Case

Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky has settled a crane accident case for $33 million.

The accident occurred on the campus of a technology company where new buildings were being erected. The technology company and its general contractor hired a crane company to assist with various construction tasks. On the day of the accident, the crane company was assisting a scaffolding contractor by elevating I beams to bridge and support two scaffold towers. It turned out that the I beams were too short, and needed to be flown off and placed in a pile. During a pick to remove one of the I beams, the crane operator allowed too much slack into the slings, and a lifting hook caught the edge of an unsupported I beam. This sent the I beam falling to the ground below, where it struck and catastrophically injured an employee of the scaffolding contractor.

Partner David Kwass contended that the crane operator was negligent in causing an I beam to fall on a worker. He also argued that the technology company and its general contractor should have required a specific lift plan for picking the I beams and landing them safely on the ground. A mediation with the technology company and its general contractor resulted in a hard fought settlement, and set the stage for resolution with the crane company several months later.