A Pennsylvania cement company, Hercules Cement Co. LLC, has agreed to pay $12 million to the family of an ironworker who filed a personal injury workplace negligence lawsuit after the ironworker tragically fell to his death while attempting to set up a temporary catwalk at the company’s plant in Stockertown. In July 2021, the decedent, employed by G&R Mineral Services, was tasked with replacing a catwalk between two cement coolers. He fell 23 feet while trying to rearrange wooden planks to create a temporary work area, which lacked necessary safety equipment like fall protection and secure anchors.
The family’s personal injury workplace negligence lawsuit claims that Hercules Cement’s unsafe practices and failure to adhere to industry safety standards contributed to the worker’s fatal accident. Specifically, the company was negligent in that it failed to provide proper safety measures, using substandard materials like thin planks that were not suitable for the task. The lack of safety harness attachment points and proper fall protection left workers vulnerable to accidents.
The decedent’s wife filed the personal injury workplace negligence lawsuit behalf of his estate. The case reached a settlement in December 2024, avoiding a trial that was initially set for January 2025. A judge approved the $12 million settlement on March 12, 2025. This case highlights the importance of maintaining strict safety standards and the serious consequences of negligence in the workplace.
The case is Kaitlyn Pittman v. Hercules Cement Co. LLC et al., case number 230401563, in the Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Did you or someone you know sustain serious injuries as the result of a business’s negligence? Contact Attorney Aaron Decker of Anzalone & Doyle Trial Lawyers today for a free consultation regarding a potential personal injury workplace negligence claim and/or a wrongful death claim.
