Widow of man who died after falling through Mathis roof awarded more than $18M

On March 7, 2015 Juan Perez died after falling through a roof where his employer, I&R Trucking, asked him to replace translucent skylight panels on the roof of a building in Mathis, according to a news release from the family’s lawyers.

Perez, who had worked for I&R for 17 years, was often called to do odd jobs, the release states

The lawsuit sought $40 million, but a jury’s verdict resulted in $18 million plus $10 million in damages. That verdict was reached in December 2019. John Duff and Alex Hilliard, of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP, were lawyers on the case.

“Perez was given no safety equipment on the 12-foot-high corrugated metal roof, which also had translucent “skylights” made of a plastic/fiberglass material,” the release reads.

Perez could not see parts of the roof’s steel I-beam supports had rotted away. I&R Trucking was allegedly aware of the rotting that was visible from underneath, the release states.

An appeal field by I&R’s lawyers is under review.

Read The Full Article By Alexandria Rodriguez, Corpus Christi Caller Times