Louisiana Jury Awards $411M Verdict Against Brock Services After Workplace Accident Paralyzes Worker
Table of Contents
Case Background
Jose Valdivia filed a personal injury lawsuit against Brock Services LLC after a worksite injury left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. The lawsuit was filed in the 19th Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and led to a $411 million verdict, the largest in Louisiana history for a single plaintiff. [Case number: C-7331101]
Cause
Jose Valdivia worked for Brock Services LLC, a major industrial scaffolding company. On August 2, 2022, when he was 25 years old, Valdivia was working at a Phillips 66 refinery in Lake Charles. There, a coworker nicknamed “Crazy Mike” and “Walking Hazard Mike” accidentally dropped a 20-pound scaffold bar on his head. The impact caused serious injuries. Valdivia was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Injury
Despite wearing a hard hat and appropriate PPE, Valdivia was paralyzed and was diagnosed with a severe spinal cord and brain injury. He could hardly speak, became confined to a wheelchair and his sister became his primary caregiver.
Damages
Jose earned $40,000 per year at Brock and paid for his sister’s college tuition. She had to leave school to care for him full-time. The lawsuit sought compensation for the financial and medical losses suffered by Jose and his family.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Jose Valdivia
Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Roland Christensen | Alec Paradowski | Jonathan Mack | Tony Clayton | Michael Fruge | Brilliant Clayton
Defendant(s): Brock Services LLC
Key Arguments and Remarks by Counsel
Plaintiff's attorneys Roland Christensen, Alec Paradowski, and Jonathan Mack of Arnold & Itkin, along with Tony Clayton, Michael Fruge, and Brilliant Clayton of Clayton Fruge Ward, claimed that unsafe work planning, poor safety practices, and lack of supervision led to Jose’s accident. "We argued that Brock Services was responsible for the accident, so it was responsible for Jose’s physical pain and suffering, mental pain, anguish, distress, loss of enjoyment, impairment, loss of earnings, medical expenses, and all other losses related to the accident."
Defense
Rather than investigating the incident, Brock Services attempted to cover it up. Meanwhile, its key witness, Josh Miller, posted online, bragging about having zero recordable injuries—even as Jose remained paralyzed and the case proceeded through litigation.
Throughout the trial, Brock refused to accept responsibility or report the incident. Instead, its defense relied on claiming that Jose lied and faked his injuries.
Jury Verdict
On February 28, 2025, after a week-long trial, the jury returned a $411 million verdict against Brock Services LLC, after deliberating for two hours. The jury found that Brock Services caused the incident on August 2, 2022, and that its conduct was either intentional or the incident was substantially certain to occur from its perspective (including that of its agents or employees). It was also affirmed that Jose had suffered injuries as a result of the incident on August 2, 2022. The jury awarded Valdivia the following to compensate him:
Past medical damages: $594,890.36
Future and medical life care expenses: $14 million
Past lost wages: $92,497
Future lost wages: $2.5 million
Past physical pain and suffering: $10 million
Future physical pain and suffering: $50 million
Past mental pain, anguish, and emotional distress: $10 million
Future mental pain, anguish, and emotional distress: $95 million
The total verdict was $411,687,387.36.
Post-Verdict Remarks
“I am grateful for the jury’s courage standing up to a very large company like Brock and telling Brock its conduct was unacceptable,” said Roland Christensen. “Without jury trials like this one, those who do the hardest and most dangerous work go unprotected. My hope is that this verdict will cause serious change in the scaffold industry to actually put safety first.” "All of us are immensely proud of this verdict and relieved for Jose and his family. We look forward to seeing his family reclaim their future while Jose gets the absolute best care available."
Sources:
Attorney Roland Christensen's LinkedIn Post Arnold & Itkin Law Firm Louisiana Record