CHICAGO – A laborer who was injured when he fell through the roof of an old movie theater while helping with its demolition received a $4.8 million settlement.
Jose Gonzales, then 42, was working on the demolition of the former Cineplex Odeon Theatre on the Far North Side of Chicago in June 2018 and was assisting with the removal of HVAC units on the roof and placing plywood down to cover the holes, according to the complaint. Gonzales was tasked with moving a stack of plywood from one location to another. As he was lifting the last piece, he stepped forward and fell through the hole the plywood was covering, falling nearly 12 feet.
“I think it just is one of those cases that we see too frequently, where the construction industry has people in positions of authority who do not prioritize safety, almost intentionally,” Brian L. Salvi told the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
