Key Notes
- Sweet James Accident Attorneys secured a $13.25 million settlement for a worker injured in a Gardena premises liability case.
- A pest inspector fell 8 feet through a collapsed roof, suffering spinal fractures, broken ribs, and a bruised lung.
- Ashkahn M., a Sweet James attorney, resolved the case against the property owners and contractors.
- Property owners and contractors must maintain safe conditions for workers who enter their premises under California law.
- If you were injured on someone else’s property while working, you may have a legal claim for compensation.
When you go to work every day, you trust that the places you’re sent to are reasonably safe. But what happens when a building you’re inspecting literally collapses beneath you?
That’s what happened to a pest inspector working for Terminix in Gardena, California. While performing a routine roof inspection, he stepped onto a section of roof that gave way, sending him plummeting approximately 8 feet to the floor below.[1] The fall left him with catastrophic injuries, including fractured vertebrae in his lower spine, multiple broken ribs, and a bruised lung.[1] After two spinal surgeries and a long recovery, Sweet James Accident Attorneys secured a $13.25 million settlement on his behalf.[1]
What happened in the Gardena roof collapse case?
The injured worker was doing his job: accessing a roof to inspect for pests. The roof should have been safe. It wasn’t. The structure failed, and he fell roughly 8 feet onto a hard surface below.[1]
The impact fractured his L1 vertebra and burst his L3 vertebra, both critical load-bearing bones in the lower back.[1] He also broke several ribs and bruised a lung, complicating his breathing and recovery.[1] Doctors performed a lumbar fusion surgery to stabilize his spine, along with a vertebroplasty to reinforce the damaged bone.[1]
The injuries changed his life. He faced months of pain, immobility, and uncertainty about whether he’d ever work again. Meanwhile, his family shouldered the emotional and financial weight of his recovery.
Sweet James attorney Ashkahn M. took the case and fought to hold the responsible parties accountable. After thorough investigation and negotiation, the case settled for $13.25 million.[1]
Who is responsible when a roof collapses on a worker?
In California, property owners and anyone who controls a premises have a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for people who lawfully enter.[2] That includes workers who arrive to perform inspections, repairs, or other services.
If a structural defect exists and the owner knows about it, or should have known about it through reasonable inspection, they can be held liable when that defect causes injury.[2] The same applies to contractors or management companies who oversee maintenance and repairs.
In this Gardena case, the roof was not safe for someone performing a routine inspection. Whether the collapse was caused by deferred maintenance, faulty construction, or hidden damage, the law says the property owner and any responsible contractors must answer for it.[1][2]
Premises liability cases require proof that the dangerous condition existed, that the defendant knew or should have known, and that the condition directly caused the injury.[2] Ashkahn M. and the Sweet James legal team built that case step by step, gathering evidence that led to the eight-figure settlement.[1]
What injuries did the worker suffer?
The fall left the worker with serious damage to his spine and chest. He sustained a compression fracture at the L1 vertebra and a burst fracture at L3.[1] In layman’s terms, one vertebra was crushed, and another broke apart. Both required surgical repair.
Doctors performed a lumbar fusion, permanently joining sections of his lower spine with hardware and bone grafts to restore stability.[1] They also did a vertebroplasty, injecting medical cement into the fractured bone to support it while it healed.[1]
He also fractured multiple ribs and bruised his lung, making it painful to breathe and slowing his recovery.[1] The combination of spinal and chest injuries meant months of limited mobility, intense pain, and a long road back to any semblance of normal life.
These are the kinds of injuries that don’t just heal and disappear. They leave lasting effects: chronic pain, reduced strength, permanent hardware in the spine, and the risk of future complications.
How does a premises liability settlement work in California?
Most premises liability cases settle before trial. That doesn’t mean they’re easy. It means the evidence and legal strategy are strong enough that the defendant and their insurer recognize the risk of going to court.
Settlement negotiations involve documenting every element of the claim: medical records, wage loss, future care needs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. The goal is to arrive at a number that fairly compensates the injured person for all they’ve lost and will continue to lose.[2]
In this case, the $13.25 million settlement reflects the severity of the injuries, the multiple surgeries, the permanent impairment, and the impact on the worker’s ability to earn a living.[1] It also sends a message to property owners in Gardena and across California: you cannot ignore safety, and you will be held accountable when someone is hurt because of your negligence.
Sweet James has recovered over $1 billion for injured accident victims, and our 400-plus legal professionals fight for clients every day so they don’t face this alone. But every case is different, and past results never guarantee future outcomes.[3]
What should you do if you’re injured in a workplace accident on someone else’s property?
First, get medical help. Even if you think the injury is minor, see a doctor. Some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately, and you need documentation.
Second, report the accident. Tell your employer, and if possible, document the scene with photos and witness information.
Third, talk to an attorney before you talk to an insurance adjuster. Insurers will try to minimize what they pay. You need someone in your corner who knows the law and won’t let you be pressured into accepting an offer far below what your claim is worth.
“When someone is hurt because a property owner failed to maintain a safe environment, we make sure that person gets every dollar they deserve,” said Steve Mehr, Founding Partner at Sweet James Accident Attorneys. “This case shows what happens when you hold negligent parties fully accountable.”
When someone is hurt because a property owner failed to maintain a safe environment, we make sure that person gets every dollar they deserve.Steve Mehr – Founding Partner at Sweet James Accident Attorneys
If you were injured on someone else’s property while working in Gardena, Los Angeles County, or anywhere in California, call Sweet James at (800) 900-0000. The consultation is free, and we don’t charge fees or costs unless we win your case.
About the Author
This article was prepared by the legal team at Sweet James Accident Attorneys, a personal injury law firm representing accident victims in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Georgia. For more information or a free case evaluation, call (800) 900-0000 or visit sweetjames.com.
Sources
[1] Sweet James case records, 2026.
[2] California Civil Code § 1714, Premises Liability, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1714
[3] Sweet James Accident Attorneys internal case data, 2026.
[4] California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=335.1
