Last reviewed: June 12, 2026 by Jacob Oresky, Esq.
Two construction workers obtained a $23 million jury verdict after suffering serious injuries when a ladder-jack scaffold collapsed approximately 20 feet above the ground during a façade renovation project in Manhasset, New York. The jury verdict was made after the Court granted the plaintiffs summary judgment, winning the case under New York Labor Law § 240(1), commonly known as the Scaffold Law, which requires owners and contractors to provide adequate fall protection for workers exposed to elevation-related hazards.
Case Facts
| Outcome | $23,000,000 Verdict |
| Resolution | Jury Verdict |
| Mechanism | Ladder-Jack Scaffold Collapse |
| Workers Injured | Two Construction Workers |
| Statute | New York Labor Law § 240(1) |
| Court | Bronx Supreme Court |
| Year | 2024 Verdict |
| Attorneys | Oresky & Associates, PLLC |
Scaffold Collapse — How the Accident Happened
The $23 million scaffold collapse case arose from façade renovation work being performed at a commercial property in Manhasset, New York. The two construction workers were assigned to perform exterior stucco work while standing on a ladder-jack scaffold assembled with portable ladders and a work platform.
The ladder-jack scaffold was positioned approximately 20 feet above ground level. As the work progressed, the scaffold suddenly collapsed, causing the two construction workers to fall to the surface below.
Evidence presented during litigation showed that the scaffold had not been properly secured. The ladders lacked rubber footing, the platform was not properly attached, and the workers were not provided with harnesses, lifelines, or other fall-protection equipment.
The collapse exposed the two construction workers to the precise type of elevation-related risk that New York Labor Law § 240(1) was enacted to prevent.
Why Labor Law § 240(1) Applied — Absolute Liability for Owners and Contractors
Absolute Liability
New York Labor Law § 240(1) requires owners and contractors to furnish workers with proper safety devices when construction work exposes them to gravity-related hazards. These devices may include scaffolds, ladders, hoists, slings, hangers, blocks, pulleys, braces, ropes, harnesses, guardrails, and other forms of fall protection.
In the $23 million scaffold collapse case, the two construction workers were required to perform façade work approximately 20 feet above the ground while using a scaffold that ultimately failed. The absence of adequate fall protection and the collapse of the scaffold itself established a violation of Labor Law § 240(1).
Under New York law, the workers’ conduct cannot be used as a defense when the failure to provide proper safety devices is a proximate cause of the accident.
Non-Delegable Duty
Labor Law § 240(1) imposes a non-delegable duty on owners and contractors. Even when another company assembles or supervises the scaffold, responsibility for providing adequate safety protection remains with the parties covered by the statute.
The New York Court of Appeals has repeatedly recognized this principle. See Rocovich v. Consolidated Edison Co., 78 N.Y.2d 509 (1991), and Ross v. Curtis-Palmer Hydro-Electric Co., 81 N.Y.2d 494 (1993).
Those principles applied directly to the $23 million scaffold collapse verdict case because the workers were exposed to an elevation-related hazard without adequate safety protection.
For a broader discussion of New York’s Scaffold Law, see our Labor Law § 240 practice resource.
The $23 Million Verdict — How the Award Was Reached
Unlike many construction accident claims that resolve through settlement, the $23 million scaffold collapse case proceeded to trial.
The jury returned a verdict totaling $23 million for the two injured construction workers, reflecting the severity of their injuries and the long-term impact the accident had on their lives. The case was ultimately settled for multiples of what the insurance company had offered prior to trial.
Injuries Sustained by the Two Construction Workers
One construction worker suffered serious injuries to both elbows, including radial head fractures, an ulna fracture, internal derangement, and injuries requiring open reduction internal fixation surgery. This construction worker also sustained tears and internal derangement to both wrists, including a large TFCC tear to the left wrist that required arthroscopic repair surgery, synovectomy, and coblation arthroplasty. Additional injuries included a torn meniscus in the left knee, a partial rotator cuff tear to the right shoulder, and cervical spine disc injuries with thecal sac impingement.
The second construction worker suffered multiple rib fractures, traumatic injuries to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, multiple disc herniations with radiculopathy, and a C6-C7 herniated disc that required anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery with spinal instrumentation. The construction worker also sustained a fractured right wrist requiring surgical repair, knee injuries requiring arthroscopic surgery, and other injuries.
About the Attorneys Who Handled This Case
This case was handled by Jacob Oresky, Esq., and Steven Labell, Esq.
Jacob Oresky is the founder of Oresky & Associates, PLLC and has spent decades representing injured construction workers throughout New York. His practice focuses on construction accidents, scaffold collapses, ladder falls, falling-object cases, and claims brought under New York Labor Law §§ 200, 240(1), and 241(6).
Steven Labell is a personal injury attorney at Oresky & Associates, PLLC who concentrates his practice on personal injury and construction accident litigation. He has represented injured workers and accident victims throughout New York and has helped secure significant verdicts and settlements in complex injury cases. Together, Jacob Oresky and Steven Labell with our firm’s trial counsel obtained this special result and resulting settlement in this scaffold collapse case.
Related Construction Accident Verdicts and Settlements
$10 Million Settlement — Bronx Floor Collapse
Two plumbers suffered serious injuries after a residential floor collapsed during renovation work, causing both workers to fall more than 20 feet into a basement below.
$9 Million Settlement — Construction Worker Injured in Fall in the Bronx
A construction worker sustained serious injuries after falling from an elevated work area at a Bronx construction site. The case involved claims arising from failures to provide proper safety protections for elevated work and resulted in a $9 million recovery.
$5 Million Settlement — Ladder Fall Under Labor Law § 240(1)
A construction worker recovered compensation after falling from an unsecured ladder while performing elevated work at a New York job site.
Common Questions About the $23 Million Scaffold Collapse Verdict
Was the $23 million recovery a verdict or a settlement?
The $23 million recovery was a jury verdict. The case proceeded through trial before the verdict was returned. The case was later settled while the appeal of the verdict was pending.
Why did Labor Law § 240(1) apply to the scaffold collapse?
The defendant violated the scaffold law by failing to provide proper safety equipment. The defendant failed to provide proper and safe scaffolds, along with protective devices such as harnesses and lanyards with lifelines.
Does a similar scaffold accident guarantee a similar recovery?
No. Every construction accident case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and the value of any claim depends on its specific facts, injuries, and legal circumstances.
Get Answers About Your New York Scaffold Collapse Case
Oresky & Associates, New York Construction Accident Attorneys
Construction workers injured in scaffold collapses often face extensive medical treatment, lost income, and uncertainty about their future. New York Labor Law § 240(1) provides important protections for workers exposed to elevation-related hazards, but property owners, contractors, and insurance companies may still dispute responsibility or challenge the value of a claim.
Oresky & Associates, PLLC, has spent more than 30 years representing injured construction workers throughout New York. Our legal team understands the complex legal and factual issues involved in scaffold collapse cases and works to hold responsible parties accountable when proper safety protections are not provided.
If you or a loved one was injured in a scaffold collapse, ladder fall, or other construction accident, contact Oresky & Associates, PLLC, for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your legal options.