A Florida couple has filed a lawsuit against a scaffolding company and its associated entities, alleging severe negligence that led to catastrophic injuries. On July 18, 2024, Ronaldo Morales and Carmen Morales submitted their complaint in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, targeting Haynes Scaffolding & Supply Inc., Haynes WPB Properties LLC, Marvin Bravo Ortiz, and Kazi Israel.
According to the complaint, Ronaldo Morales was employed by Haynes Scaffolding & Supply Inc. in June 2021. The plaintiffs claim that he was not provided with essential safety equipment or adequate training to perform his job duties. On August 11, 2021, while working inside the company's warehouse at 1210 Ortega Road in West Palm Beach, Ronaldo was instructed to gather new scaffolding for a customer. The scaffolding was precariously stacked against a wall without any restraint system. As he attempted to organize it, the scaffolding toppled over, causing him to fall back and suffer traumatic injuries.
The complaint further alleges that both Haynes Scaffolding & Supply Inc. and Haynes WPB Properties LLC were aware of the hazardous conditions on their property but failed to take corrective measures. "The unsecured stacking of erect scaffolding was known to the owner," states the document. It also highlights that Eugene M. Haynes is identified as the sole corporate officer and manager of Haynes WPB Properties LLC.
Ronaldo Morales claims that his employer's negligence extended beyond just unsafe working conditions. He accuses Marvin Bravo Ortiz and Kazi Israel of gross negligence for failing to ensure a safe work environment and adequately train employees. Both Ortiz and Israel held supervisory roles within the company—Ortiz as Warehouse Supervisor and Israel as Warehouse Dispatcher—and are accused of ignoring known risks that could result in serious injury or death.
The plaintiffs seek judgment for damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney’s fees. They are asking for compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, and other damages permitted under Florida law. Additionally, Carmen Morales is claiming loss of consortium due to her husband's debilitating injuries.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Lake H. Lytal II and Gabriel F. Zambrano from Lytal Reiter Smith Ivey & Fronrath law firm based in Fort Lauderdale. The case will be presided over by Judge Joseph Abruzzo under Case Number: 502024CA006734XXXAMB Div: AK.