Carpenter sues contractor over mirror injury

A Cook County man has sued a construction company and hotel business, alleging negligence.

Joseph Rivera filed a lawsuit March 23 in Cook County Circuit Court against Symmetric Renovation Services and SSH TRS M, doing business as Courtyard by Marriott Schaumburg, involving a 2013 work injury.

According to the complaint, Symmetric was appointed as general contractor for remodeling of the Courtyard by Marriott Schaumburg and on Jan. 4, 2013, Rivera, a carpenter employed by MEP Construction, was on site in the scope of his employment. When Rivera removed several large mirrors from the hotel’s gym room, they broke into pieces and he was injured, the suit states.

Court documents allege the defendant was responsible for operating, managing, supervising and controlling the construction site in a reasonably safe manner for workers. The suit states Symmetric failed to properly inspect, manage, and control the project to ensure a safe workplace, failed to warn Rivera of dangerous conditions or provide appropriate equipment for the removal of the mirror and were otherwise negligent.

The plaintiff alleges severe and permanent injuries, pain and anguish, medical expenses and loss of functionality in everyday life.

Rivera seeks damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorney fees and costs.

He is represented by Matthew Abrams of The Abrams Law Group in Skokie.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 15-L-2919.