IronWorker Awarded Penalties Against Area Erectors And Gallagher Basset ($2.9 Million)
A union ironworker from Local 444 recovered $2.9 million for an arm injury resulting from a crane accident.
The Case
Gallagher Bassett cut the ironworker’s weekly benefits, leaving him to starve. They cut him off because he made a gesture to a fellow employee while working doing light duty work in Area’s office. The gesture he made was to shape his hand into the form of a gun and to point the gun-shaped hand at another employee. For that reason, he was fired and his benefits were cut off.
In-Depth Look
Horwitz filed an emergency petition under 19(b) of the statute and went to trial. Horwitz convinced the arbitrator to award penalties against Area for a termination of benefits without a reasonable basis. This ironworker also had a third party case and this resolved for just under three million dollars.