The case of the collapsing deck, Savicki vs. Rothman & Beaulieu, Inc., and James A. McCarthy, Inc; Superior Court, Tolland, Conn. Judicial District, January 1996

A woman hires a contractor to build her a house, and when she walks out on the deck during a visit to the site, the deck collapses, injuring her. In addition to abrasions on her face and leg, and soft-tissue injuries to her head, neck and back, she develops a hematoma in her right leg. The fall also aggravates a pre-existing back condition, requiring surgery with some resulting impairment. In addition, the woman has daily headaches that interfere with her regular activities. Her medications cause hair loss and weight gain.

The woman sues the contractor as well as the subcontractor who built the deck on temporary supports that failed due to thawing. In the suit, the woman claims she was officially invited to the site, the contractor knew the temporary supports would be dangerous if the ground thawed, and the subcontractor still had control of the premises because the deck work was not finished.

The contractor argues that it had not accepted the deck and did not have control of it, and says the woman was trespassing when the accident happened. The subcontractor says it had handed over control of the site and the contractor had accepted its work

The woman claims $48,839 in past medical expenses and $145,780 in future medical costs. Settlement efforts end with the woman asking for $750,000 and receiving an offer of $150,000.

The damages:
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