HGSK Helps Secure $2M Settlement for Poconos Deck Collapse Case

Posted By Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith, P.C.

A dozen people were injured while vacationing in the Poconos when a deck collapsed without warning. The resulting personal injury claim filed for the 12 people named a total of six defendants, including construction crews and a realty company, making for a highly-complex claim. Attorney Terry Goldberg and Attorney Jason Weiss of Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith, P.C. were retained to represent seven of the plaintiffs, and they played an instrumental role in securing the $2 million settlement offered collectively by the defendants during mediation.

Details of the Poconos Deck Collapse Case

According to statements from the plaintiffs and witnesses, nine children and four adults were enjoying their time on the deck of a home in Albrightsville when it collapsed. All but one of them suffered serious to severe injuries. As the weight of the group did not exceed what one could reasonably expect to be the weight limit of a full-sized deck, negligence on behalf of builders, maintenance crews, and inspectors was immediately suspected.

Through their work, HGSK and the other plaintiff attorneys were able to track down multiple companies who played a role in the deck’s construction and maintenance. As it turned out, the home’s construction was completed in 2004 by defendant Twin Builders, defendant Meckes Builders had been hired to construct the deck itself, and defendant McArdles Building & Remodeling was in charge of making the framework for the deck. Other defendants included a couple who bought the home in 2013 and leased it to some of the plaintiffs, as well as a realty company that failed to report and act upon an inspection of the deck that noted structural weaknesses.

Despite the overwhelming evidence that the deck had been constructed, maintained, and inspected negligently, none of the six total defendants were willing to accept any liability for the accident. To try to bat away the plaintiffs’ claim, the defendants tried to argue the deck’s original construction date 12-years prior exceeded statutes of limitations. Through persistence and legal experience, our attorneys from HGSK and the others who represented the five remaining plaintiffs were able to cooperatively negotiate a $2 million settlement to end the case in the plaintiffs’ favor.

(You can learn more about the Poconos deck collapse case by clicking here and viewing a full article posted by The Legal Intelligencer. You may need login information or a subscription to proceed.)

Pennsylvania Injury Attorneys Fighting for Your Rights

Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith, P.C. is known throughout Pennsylvania as a team of honest and compassionate legal champions who stand up for the wrongfully injured. From deck collapse cases to car accidents to workers’ compensation claims, we never back down when a client’s wellbeing is on the line. To find out how we can help you with a personal injury claim of your own, you can call (267) 350-6600 at any time to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation with our firm.