$1,500,000 Verdict

When a worker steps onto a piece of equipment, they trust it to hold them. When that equipment fails because of a design flaw the manufacturer knew about, the consequences can be catastrophic and permanent. Falls from defective scaffolding and construction equipment cause some of the most severe injuries seen in workplace accident cases, including brain damage, organ damage, and disabilities that end careers. Workers in these situations deserve legal representation that can go toe-to-toe with large manufacturers and win.

At Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., we have done exactly that. Our attorneys secured a $1,500,000 verdict for a 40-year-old ironworker who suffered devastating, life-altering injuries after a scaffold manufactured by Louisville Ladder Co. buckled beneath him and sent him falling 30 feet to the ground. This case, tried in the Ohio Carroll County Court of Common Pleas (Case No. 15113-80-3), is one of many examples captured in our case results that reflect our firm’s willingness to take on powerful corporate defendants and hold them accountable for the harm caused by defective products.

The Incident: A Scaffold That Should Have Never Collapsed

The plaintiff was standing on the cantilever section of the scaffold, the portion that extends beyond one of the structure’s two support points, when it buckled under his weight. He fell 30 feet to the ground. The injuries he sustained were severe and permanent. He suffered fractured ribs, significant lung damage, substantial hearing loss, and serious head trauma with brain damage that left him permanently unable to return to work. 

His recovery required three separate brain surgeries, and his medical expenses totaled $17,000. The jury also awarded $350,000 to recognize the devastating impact this accident had on his spouse through a loss of consortium claim.

The Arguments We Made and the Verdict We Won

Our attorneys demonstrated in court that the scaffold’s cantilever section was not adequately designed to support a person standing on it, and that Louisville Ladder Co. had failed to warn users of this danger or to provide proper instructions for the safe use of that section. These failures placed a dangerous product in the hands of a skilled tradesman who had no reason to believe it would collapse beneath him. The jury agreed, returning a full verdict of $1,500,000 for the plaintiff.

Product liability cases involving construction equipment require a specific combination of technical knowledge, expert testimony, and courtroom skill. Manufacturers like Louisville Ladder Co. have legal teams and resources designed to minimize their exposure and shift blame onto the worker. Our attorneys know how to counter those strategies. We work with engineers, safety professionals, and medical experts to build cases that hold up under scrutiny and deliver results in the courtroom. The Popick verdict is one example of what that preparation and commitment look like in practice.

Who Is Louisville Ladder Co.?

Louisville Ladder Co. is a Kentucky-based manufacturer that has produced ladders, scaffolding, and climbing equipment since 1946. The company markets itself as a leader in safety and product quality, supplying construction equipment to professionals across the United States and internationally. Despite this positioning, our attorneys demonstrated that the scaffold at issue was inadequately designed and came without sufficient warnings or instructions regarding the cantilever section. The verdict in this case is a direct consequence of those failures.

It is worth noting that Louisville Ladder Co. is not a small or obscure operation. The company has grown into one of the largest climbing equipment manufacturers in North America, with a broad distribution network and significant market presence across multiple industries, including construction, maintenance, and facilities management. When a company of that size and reach puts a defective product into workers’ hands without adequate warnings, the consequences can be severe, and they must be held responsible.

If You Were Injured by Defective Construction Equipment

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, and other construction equipment are among the most serious workplace accidents a person can experience. If the equipment failed because of a design defect or because a manufacturer did not properly warn you of known dangers, you may have a product liability claim that goes beyond workers’ compensation benefits. These claims can be complex, particularly when the defendant is a large manufacturer with significant legal resources, and the right legal team makes all the difference.

Workers injured on job sites are often told that workers’ compensation is their only option. That is not always true. When a third party, such as a product manufacturer, contributed to the accident through negligence or a defective design, a separate civil claim may be available. This type of claim can recover damages that workers’ compensation does not cover, including pain and suffering, loss of future earning capacity, and loss of consortium for affected family members. Our case results reflect decades of securing significant verdicts and settlements for clients who have suffered serious injuries at the hands of negligent corporations. We are not afraid to take a case to trial, and our record proves it.

Hold Negligent Manufacturers Accountable With Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A.

Founded in 1971, Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. has spent more than 50 years fighting for people seriously injured due to the negligence of others. Our firm has recovered well over $500 million on behalf of our clients, and our 19 full-time attorneys operate across 7 offices nationwide. We are the only plaintiffs firm of our kind named to “Best Law Firms”® by US News & World Report on a national level, and US News & World Report has recognized five of our attorneys as “Best Lawyers”® in America. Our success stories speak for themselves, as does our commitment to taking cases all the way through trial when that is what justice requires.

If you or a family member suffered serious injuries due to defective construction equipment, a scaffold collapse, or a fall caused by a product that was not properly designed or labeled, we are ready to help. Contact us today through our free case evaluation form or call 877-233-1238 for a free and confidential consultation.