PHILADELPHIA – A shelving contractor performing work at an area IKEA store says the furniture retailer’s negligence led to him suffering spinal damage and post-concussion syndrome when a metal bracket/shelf fell and landed on his head.
Robert Hinton of Norristown filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 17 versus IKEA and IKEA Pennsylvania, LLC of Philadelphia.
Per the litigation, the defendants owned and operated an IKEA retail store in Conshohocken. On Jan. 16, 2018, Hinton was working at that store for his employer, Adecco, which was hired by IKEA to install shelving units there, the suit says.
“While the plaintiff was in the act of installing shelving and shelving units, a metal shelf/bracket fell down and onto the plaintiff, striking his head and neck, causing him to suffer injuries,” the suit states.
Hinton alleges the defendants failed to maintain a safe workplace environment inside the store, failed to properly inspect, maintain and store the metal bracket/shelf in question and failed to take appropriate precautions of same, in addition to other charges.
As a result, Hinton says he suffered post-concussion syndrome, cervical strain and sprain, disc protrusion at the C6-C7 vertebral junction of the cervical spine and cervical radiculitis, along with severe nervous system shock, physical pain and mental anguish.
For negligence, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, jointly and severally, plus delay damages, interest and costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Jonathan A. Picker of Picker Law Offices, in Norristown.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel, according to Court records.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 181201969
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com