Our client, a 30-year-old laborer, was performing construction work in the backyard of a single-family home in Brooklyn. The house was being renovated due to a fire. At the time of the incident, our client was attempting to lower the top half of an old, worn, and rusty aluminum extension ladder. A coworker on an adjacent ladder was lowering the upper portion to him because the ladder's rope was broken. Due to a broken rung lock, the ladder fell approximately 5-6 rungs, striking our client's left foot and knee.

Despite complaining to his supervisors on at least three prior occasions about the ladder's condition, no action was taken. Although the client did not go to the hospital immediately and finished the day's work, he sought treatment the following Monday due to persistent pain and swelling. The client sustained tears in the ligaments of his knee, specifically a meniscus tear, which required surgical repair.

We discovered that the defendant's SEC disclosures classified the subject property as a rental/investment property. Additionally, we uncovered a pattern where the defendant and his wife would flip properties after living in them for two years to avoid the capital gains tax. This led to securing a $500,000 settlement at the final pretrial conference.