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COOK COUNTY RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Worker sues over workplace injury

 A janitor is suing a contractor for injuries she suffered from being hit by a desk left in an upright position at work.

Teresa Mroczko filed a complaint June 11 in Cook County Circuit Court against Pepper Construction Co.; Perez and Associates Inc.; Interface Americas Inc., doing business as Interface Flor; and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

On Aug. 17, 2012, Pepper Construction was the general contractor on a project at 300 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Mroczko was employed as a janitor by A and R Janitorial. While performing her work, workers for Pepper Construction moved a desk into a vertical position to remove carpeting from a certain area, which caused a crush hazard, the lawsuit states. The plaintiff was ultimately was struck by "an unbalanced, unstable desk left in the area where she was required to work," the lawsuit states.

The defendants are cited with carelessness and negligence for placing an unbalanced desk in an area where it could crush passersby or other workers, and failing to supervise the construction site; make reasonable inspections of the area; properly schedule and coordinate the work; protect against crush hazards; require that desks not be left in an upright position; provide warnings about an unsafe condition; and barricade the unsafe area.

As a result, the lawsuit states, Mroczko suffered injuries, pain and suffering, loss of earnings; and medical expenses.

The plaintiff, citing construction negligence, seeks damages in excess of $200,000, plus costs -- $50,000 from each listed defendant.

The plaintiff is represented by Bryant M. Greening of Aleksy Belcher in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L005957.

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