Ohio Law Firm of Elk & Elk Announces $39 Million Verdict in Wrongful Death Case

Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. attorney Phillip A. Kuri obtains a jury verdict in Cuyahoga County on behalf of the widow of a construction worker killed in a 2010 accident. The judgment includes $19 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages against the paving company that caused the accident on Interstate 271 in Summit County.

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Elk & Elk

Apr 05, 2014, 10:32 ET

CLEVELAND, April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio personal injury law firm of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce a $39 million verdict on behalf of a deceased Ohio construction worker who lost his life in a fatal motor vehicle accident in 2010 on Interstate 271, near Richfield, Ohio.

A unanimous jury in Cuyahoga County, Ohio returned the $39 million verdict against The Shelly Company on April 3, 2014 in the case of Lynette A. Roginski v. Shelly Co., et al. The jury ruled that the Thornville, Ohio paving company was negligent and caused the fatal accident, according to official court documents. (Case no. CV-11-760490).

"When corporations put profits ahead of safety, as was the case in Mr. Roginski's tragic death, families suffer the very real consequences," said Phillip A. Kuri, a prominent Cleveland attorney and one of two lawyers who represented the plaintiff. "It is our wish that this verdict will put companies on notice and help prevent similar accidents in the future."

The fatal accident on July 27, 2010 resulted in the death of Randy Roginski, a husband, son, and father of three. Mr. Roginski, a 41-year-old resident of North Royalton was in an active construction zone working for Solar Testing Labs Inc. at the time of the accident, which occurred at 11:58 p.m. just north of Interstate 77, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He was standing on the berm on the right side of the highway when he was struck by a passing motorist. Roginski, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The case was brought in 2011 by Mr. Roginski's widow, represented by Philip A. Kuri of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. and Christian R. Patno of McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Lifftman Co., LPA. The plaintiff's attorneys presented evidence that the paving company cut corners and failed to follow the approved safety plan. The jury determined The Shelly Company was negligent and awarded Mr. Roginski's widow $19 million in compensatory damages, according to court documents. The Shelley Company was also found liable for $20 million in punitive damages and ordered to pay the plaintiff's attorney fees.

"Sadly, many workplace injuries and deaths such as Mr. Roginski's are preventable," said Kuri. "We hope this sizeable verdict will serve as a reminder to corporate America that if someone dies due to a company's negligent actions, that business will be held accountable."

About Phillip A. Kuri
Attorney Phillip A. Kuri, a partner at Elk & Elk Co., Ltd., practices in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice and general tort law, among others. Attorney Kuri has been selected as an Ohio "Super Lawyer," recognized by the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums and is a member of the American Association for Justice Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

About Elk & Elk
The Elk & Elk® personal injury law firm represents clients in cases throughout Ohio. The firm has 18 trial attorneys with experience in motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, defective products, work place accidents, and premises liability. Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. has offices located at 6105 Parkland Boulevard, Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124 and locations throughout Ohio, including Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron, Canton, Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown. For more information, visit www.elkandelk.com.