Ware, Jackson, Lee, O'Neill, Smith & Barrow, LLP

Ware, Jackson, Lee, O’Neill, Smith & Barrow, LLP partners Don Jackson and Paul Smith Successfully represented a general contractor and additional subcontractors in a work place death.

This case involved a work place death resulting from a prefabricated stair falling on the truck driver who transported it to the worksite. On behalf of the wife and three minor children, Plaintiff’s counsel, John O’Quinn, demanded $38 million before trial. After three weeks of trial, the jury could not reach a decision, and a mistrial was declared. WJ represented the subcontracting crane company. They were the targets of the litigation accused of knocking the stair off the truck onto the decedent. After the mistrial, WJ represented both the general contractor and the crane company. WJ persuaded the court to grant summary judgment for the general contractor. A week into the second trial, WJ settled the case for a favorable confidential amount that had been offered two years earlier and remained on the table. Partners Don Jackson and Paul Smith were assisted by a team including partners Tim Lee and Eileen O’Neill.