3.4 Million verdict overturned as Supreme Court decision addresses construction accident issues

The Connecticut Supreme Court will be releasing a decision of the 20th of this month in the case of Archembault vs. Soneco/Northeastern, Inc., et al, This decision, which revolves around a construction accident in which an employee of Soneco is seriously injured in a trench collapse, speaks to the duties of the general contractor on a job site to provide a safe work enviornment. The Court has determined that that the trial court's instruction to the jury that the general contractor on a job site has a non-delegable duty to provide a safe work site was erroneous and has ordered a new trial overturning the jury's 3.4 million dollar award. There are many nuances regarding the interplay between a GC and a subcontractor on a construction project. We will study this decision and determine a course of action so as to best represent our clients in these relatively common scenarios.

The decision may be read in its entirety here.