Verdict:$2.9 million; $2,693,500 for Tom Zujkowski, $269,583 for Cathy Zujkowski

Summary:At the time of the accident, plantiff was a 28-year-old roofing-and-siding construction foreman with annual earnings of $34,000. In May, 1990, he fell 30 feet to a concrete floor when the floor on which he was working collapsed under him. The plaintiff's injuries, including multiple fractures, resulted in his total and permanent inablility to pursue gainful employment. Plaintiff contended that the general contractor for the complete retrofit of the building where he was working failed to comply with all relevant OSHA regulations, Defendant general contractor sued plaintiff's employer/subcontractor as third-party defendant seeking indemnity for the injuries under their uderlying construction agreement. The jury found the defendant 99 percent responsible and the plaintiff 1 percent responsible for the accident. The third-party defendant was not found negligent in any way that would have required it to indemnify the defendant. Motions for a new trial and a remittitur have been filed.

Claimed Injuries: Tom Zujkowski multiple fractures of both heels, multiple fractures of the left wrist, fractured lumbar vertebra right arm injury, multiple surgeries and lose of ability to work
Plaintiffs' attorney: James A. Erisman, Daly, Erisman & vanOgtrop, Wilmington.
Defendants' attorneys: For Pettinaro Constuction: Mary Sherlock, Brown, Shiels & Chasnov, Dover. For Coffey Brothers: James F. Balley, Wilmington.
Plaintiff's experts: Dr. Albert Johnson, Bridgewater, N.J.(treating orthopedic surgeon); Mathew J. Burkart, Southampton, Penn. (safety engineer); Robert P. Wolfe, Cherry Hill, N.J. (vocational/economic expert).
Defendant's experts: Stephen McDermott, Wilmington (vocational and rehabilitation expert); Ingo Zeise, Elkton, Md. (saftey engineer).
Insurance carrier: The PMA Group.
Report submitted by: Robert E. Daley.