Jury Awards Branchville Man $3.98 Million in Elevator Malfunction Case – Personal Injury Practice Group

A Morristown jury returned a $3,980,000.00 verdict for Richard Tufaro, 53 of Branchville for injuries he sustained when the elevator in which he was traveling dropped two and one half floors and suddenly stopped.  

On August 19, 2005, Tufaro was leaving his construction job at the Headquarters Plaza Hotel in Morristown when he got into the elevator and it malfunctioned causing the elevator to drop and the emergency braking system to engage.  As the elevator jolted to a stop between floors, Tufaro’s body was thrown into the metal instrument panel.

Tufaro suffered spinal injuries including herniated discs in his neck and back as well as a shoulder injury.  Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. James Dwyer testified that Tufaro’s injuries were permanent in nature and serious. 

“This is an important case because elevator maintenance companies have a responsibility to the community to keep their elevators safe.  When they fail to properly maintain their elevators, as in this case, people get hurt.  The elevator maintenance company is then responsible for that harm,” said Andrew Fraser, the attorney for Richard Tufaro and Richard’s wife, Sharon.

Fraser, partner at Laddey, Clark & Ryan in Sparta, filed the lawsuit against Schindler Corporation, the elevator maintenance company hired by Headquarters Plaza.  The lawsuit alleged that Schindler failed to maintain the elevator at Headquarters Plaza causing it to malfunction and caused Tufaro’s permanent injuries.

“This jury truly understood the severe and permanent impact this incident and these injuries had on the Tufaros’ lives,” said Timothy Dinan, Esq., who assisted Fraser with the trial.

“We are so grateful we chose Laddey, Clark & Ryan to represent us and tell our story.  We are also grateful to the jury for helping to make up for what has happened to me and my family in this case,” Richard Tufaro said.

The trial was presided over by the Honorable Donald Coburn, J.S.C. in the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown.  Attorney James DeNorscia of Hackensack represented the defendant Schindler Corporation. 

“It was a pleasure representing Rich and Sharon Tufaro.  Rich will never be the same man he was before stepping in that elevator on August 19, 2005, but we are glad that together with the jury, we could try to help the Tufaros to bring their lives back into balance,” said Fraser. 

The Personal Injury Practice Group at Laddey, Clark & Ryan including Fraser, his wife Lauren Fraser, Esq, Tim Dinan, Esq., and their staff of hardworking paralegals and assistants have been extremely successful in helping injured members of the community receive fair compensation. 

Andrew and Lauren Fraser have received some of the highest jury verdicts on behalf of injured people in Sussex County.

“This case, like all of our cases, is a true team effort,” Fraser said.