$1.1 Million Settlement for Ironworker Injured in Southwest Suburban Warehouse
Web Release, 12/09/2008Clifford Law Offices and another firm obtained a $1.1 million settlement yesterday (Monday, Dec. 8, 2009) on behalf of a 47-year-old ironworker who was severely injured at a Romeoville warehouse project in 2004.
Donald Dolph, now living in Michigan City, Ind., was operating a scissors lift that toppled over as it was driven into an excavated hole covered by snow at a construction site in the far southwest suburb of Chicago. Dolph suffered injuries to his left ankle and right heel that prevent him from working as an ironworker ever again.
“This tragic accident took away the livelihood of a man who was the major financial support of the family,” said Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices. “Simple safety measures would have prevented permanent injury to this young man.”
Jury selection was underway at the Daley Center as the case settled Monday. Dolph’s attorneys said the defendants, Kajima Construction of Palatine and A.A. Conte & Son, excavation contractors of suburban West Chicago, should have warned Dolph of the excavation hole by placing barricades, marking the excavation or backfilling it.
Judge William Haddad of the Cook County Circuit Court entered an order approving the settlement which includes a waiver of a worker’s compensation lien in excess of $500,000.
