Injured construction worker reaches $16.3 million settlement

A construction site worker who lost his leg when a 3,000-pound slab fell on top of him

agreed Wednesday to settle an injury suit against the general contractor and three other defendants for $16.3 million, the Legal Intelligencer reports.

According to the report, Alfonso Jones, 47, was working in the basement during the renovation of the 106-year-old Lafayette Building in Philadelphia when he and a co-worker attempted to insert a shore pole beneath a base stone when the stone fell. The impact amputated Jones' right leg and crushed his left foot, and it took crews 20 minutes to remove the stone from atop his body.

The injuries have forced Jones to remain confined to a wheelchair, and he suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome, the article says.

The original suit blamed site contractor Intech Construction for not following the proper safety procedures to secure the the concrete base stone after workers demolished the sidewalk and began installing stronger steel foundations.

Payment of the settlement will be divided among Intech and the other defendents, engineering firm O'Donnell & Naccarato, Delta/BJDS, which oversaw the demolition, and Central Metals, parent company to Jones' employer.

Jones was represented by Robert J. Mongeluzzi of Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky.