One of the Defendants in a case set for trial in March 2011 recently settled with two workers who were severely shocked while working as painters at a church in Bessemer, Ala.  Our clients were working for the Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church and were painting the woodwork on the outside of the multi-story church building.  Although scaffolding and hydraulic lifts were utilized by church parishioners who were also painting, our clients were provided aluminum ladders to access upper windows and woodwork.  When the two men raised the ladder to get to the upper floors, the ladder contacted a power line adjacent to the church building.  As a result of the ladder contact with the power line, both men were severely shocked and required extensive hospitalization and treatment for their injuries.

Although the men were clearly working for the church on church property, using paint and ladders provided by the church, and were paid directly by the church, the church denied that the two men were employed to work and have refused to accept any responsibility for their injuries.  Interestingly, the utility company settled with the men and will not be at trial in March.  It is unusual and certainly a very sad commentary for a church to so blatantly turn its back on the injured or needy – particularly ones who were injured working for the church.  Mike Andrews, who is in our Personal Injury Section, is the lead lawyer handling this case for the firm. We look forward to presenting the case to a Bessemer jury in March.