News Alert

On March 14, 2025, a jury in Essex County Superior Court awarded $20,080,976 to Nicolas Dephillips, a former apprentice electrician who was left partly and permanently paralyzed after a fall at a Newark construction site. The verdict followed a monthlong trial before Judge Annette Scoca.

Dephillips, 21 at the time of the accident, was installing wiring for a helipad atop the Prudential Center when he fell 15 feet through a drop ceiling. He sustained spinal fractures at C6 and C7, among other injuries, resulting in paralysis from the chest down – leaving him with use of his arms and limited use of his hands.

The jury apportioned 36% liability to the non-settling defendant who remained at trial. Prior to trial Plaintiff settled with another defendant for $21M, making Plaintiff’s potential total recovery for the case $28M, assuming the verdict is sustained.

The principal theory of liability was the general contractor’s alleged failure to enforce its own safety protocols. Defense Counsel maintained that safety responsibilities rested with the settling defendant and Plaintiff. The jury allocated 8% liability to Plaintiff.

This case marks one of the largest construction injury recoveries in New Jersey history and highlights the legal significance of contractor safety obligations on multi-employer worksites.

You can read the complete Law.com article reporting on the verdict here.