February 28 2008
$2.5 Million Settlement; Man Suffers Injuries as a Result of Job Site Negligence
CHICAGO, IL – SS&P Attorney of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. reached a $2.5 million personal injury negligence settlement in Cook County on behalf of a man who was burned as a result of alleged negligence which created an unsafe work site. Judge Daniel M. Locallo of the Circuit Court of Cook County approved the settlement. [REFUGIO MARTINEZ and GLADYS TRUJILLO, plaintiffs v SAND SPRINGS METAL PROCESSING CORP., an Illinois Corporation, AMOS LIQUIDATORS, INC., AMOS IRON RECYCLING CORPORATION, PAR INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION, AND JOHN PIZZUTO : No. 04 L 004666.]
According to Attorney Donald McGarrah, the Plaintiff, Refugio Martinez, was burned on May 3, 2002 while working at a Joliet, Illinois job site. Mr. Martinez had been required to repair a leaking fuel line by one of the Defendants, unfortunately, during the repair process, fuel leaked onto his pants. Several hours later while Mr. Martinez was loading steel scrap at the site, a piece of steel became caught on his pants. A spark from the torch he used to cut free from the steel ignited the fuel on his pants from the earlier repair resulting in burns to his lower body.
The lawsuit alleged the Defendants were negligent for failing to maintain a safe worksite for its subcontractors and in failing to provide personal protective clothing, personal protective equipment, and fire fighting equipment.
“Refugio Martinez is a hard-working, dedicated family man who sustained severe and permanent burn injuries as a result of being required to perform work in a very unsafe environment. This settlement will provide him with the means to take care of his family and future medical care needs” said Attorney Donald McGarrah.
