Lawyers for Jose Rivera, a painter who was injured while working on a residential construction site in Atlanta, say their client was awarded a judgment of over $1 million. Rivera sued the defendant, Dravins Development Group, Inc. et al., for failing to provide required fall protection.

According to the law firm Childers, Schlueter & Smith, Rivera was working at the site on May 7, 2008, when he opened what he thought was a closet door on the third floor. He fell approximately 30 feet down an open elevator shaft that had no guardrails, barricades, or warnings.

Rivera allegedly suffered multiple fractures to the spine, ribs, and shoulder and underwent two surgeries. A bench trial on damages was held in September in state court. Judge Robert Walker Jr. entered judgment against the developer in the amount of $1.14 million.