Dean F. Murtagh and Kim R. Plouffe recently obtained a defense verdict following a nine-day trial on behalf of scaffolding services and erection company Safway Services LLC, formerly ThyssenKrupp Safway. The plaintiff fell 20 to 30 feet from scaffolding, suffering injuries resulting in approximately $240,000 of past and future medical expenses. The plaintiff claimed a ladder defective in its design, and negligence on part of the manufacturing company, were cause to his fall and subsequent injuries. Over objections from the plaintiffs, Murtagh and Plouffe introduced evidence showing the plaintiff had taken methadone six hours prior to the accident and wasn’t wearing shoes appropriate for use at a construction site.