CASE REPORT
(TTT 4/3) WORK INJURY--ANKLE BROKEN IN FALL AT SUBURBAN HOUSE CONSTRUCTION SITE (6) Jose Arteaga Contreras v M & F Masonry Inc. 20L-998 Tried Oct. 24-27, 2023
VERDICT: Not Guilty
JUDGE: Preston Jones, Jr. (IL Cook-Law)
Michael A. Schlechtweg Michael became a lawyer because he want - ed to stand up for businesses and the individ - uals behind them. As a member of our Con - struction Service Group, Michael represents clients from pre-suit matters through trial. He has tried many cases to verdict before Cook County juries. Michael’s practice focus - es on the defense of employers and general contractors sued for personal injuries. Clients appreciate Michael’s meticulous preparation and case knowledge. He is also an Eagle Scout.
PLTF ATTY(S): Adam T. Karchmar of Karchmar & Stone (Des Plaines, IL) DEMAND: $1,000,000 ASKED: $3,600,000 DEFT ATTY(S): Michael A. Schlechtweg, Margaret Firnstein Gebhardt of Amundsen Davis (Chicago, IL) OFFER: $30,000
PLTF MEDL: Dr. David Garras (Orthopedist), Dr. Simon Lee (Orthopedist)
Pltf M-26 drywaller was working at a residential home construction project in New Lenox when he tripped and fell on deft masonry company’s construction materials on September 27, 2019. Pltf contended deft’s employees left some angle irons (20-foot long pieces of iron used to install brickwork) inside the garage, causing him to trip on them while he was carrying a piece of drywall to install on a wall. He sustained a trimalleolar fracture of his left ankle, requir- ing three surgeries ($239,813 medical expenses and $175,330 past LT both withdrawn prior to trial). The defense argued all of the angle irons were stored in a staging area outside the house when deft’s crew left the jobsite the day before the occurrence, pltf had no evidence that deft’s workers had placed the angle irons in the garage, and pltf was contributorily at fault for his fall because he knowingly worked with drywall near the angle irons when he was unable to see them.
Margaret Firnstein Gebhardt For over 15 years, Margaret has been pro - tecting business owners’ interests in and out of court. Margaret is a litigator who often defends construction firms and property owners or managers against various claims. Margaret recently defeated citations issued against a building by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal following a fire that resulted in the death of a young woman. She also achieved summary judgment on behalf of a church al - leged to have employed a reverend who pre - viously engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor. She has tried numerous jury trials and has authored appellate briefs.
Amundsen Davis LLC is a law firm comprised of more than 240 attor - neys practicing from offices in Chicago, St. Charles, Rockford, and Crys - tal Lake, IL; Indianapolis, IN; St. Louis, MO; Milwaukee, Brookfield, Green Bay, Appleton, and Madison, WI; and Columbus, OH. The firm handles the transactional, labor and employment, and litigation needs of companies across the U.S. For more information, visit www.amundsendavislaw.com.
JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2024 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS 39
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