SKETCHES OF COURT: Worker awarded $4.9M after Barclays Center construction accident
In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Loren Baily-Schiffman listens as defendant’s attorney Bruin Hays III (standing), of the law firm Dopf, P.C., conducts a cross-examination of an expert witness during the labor law trial Michael Melville v. Brooklyn Arena, LLC, New York State Urban Development Corp. d/b/a Empire State Development Corp., and Hunt Construction Group, Inc.
In October 2011 the plaintiff, a 53-year-old union ironworker at the construction site for the Barclays Center, was struck in the head by a “come-along,” a type of hoist, as it fell from 12 feet above. The 40-pound device, which is used in the construction industry to pull loads up to 3 tons, broke Melville’s hard hat when it fell. He was rendered briefly unconscious and was removed from the site via ambulance to a hospital.
The plaintiff, represented by James J. McCrorie and Kevin G. Lillis (seated at left) of the law firm Sacks and Sacks, alleged that the defendants violated Section 240(1) of the New York state Labor Law in that the incident stemmed from an elevation-related hazard. The defendants conceded liability during the trial.
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