Construction Accident Complaint - Rhode Island

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption
2. Parties
3. Jurisdiction and Venue
4. Factual Allegations
5. First Cause of Action — Negligence
6. Second Cause of Action — Premises Liability
7. Third Cause of Action — Construction Safety Negligence
8. Fourth Cause of Action — Additional Safety Negligence
9. Fifth Cause of Action — Third-Party Liability
10. Damages
11. Comparative Fault
12. Jury Demand
13. Prayer for Relief
14. Verification
15. State-Specific Notes

CAPTION

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
[PROVIDENCE / KENT / WASHINGTON / NEWPORT], SC.
SUPERIOR COURT

C.A. No.: [________________________________]

COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES — CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT

I. PARTIES

1. Plaintiff [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME] ("Plaintiff") is an individual residing at [PLAINTIFF ADDRESS], in the Town/City of [____], County of [____], State of Rhode Island.

2. Defendant [DEFENDANT — GENERAL CONTRACTOR NAME] ("General Contractor") is a [corporation/LLC/partnership] organized under the laws of [STATE OF INCORPORATION], with its principal place of business at [DEFENDANT ADDRESS], and was at all relevant times the general contractor for the construction project described herein.

3. Defendant [DEFENDANT — PROPERTY OWNER NAME] ("Property Owner") is [an individual/a corporation/an LLC] [with its principal place of business at / residing at] [ADDRESS], and was at all relevant times the owner of the premises where the construction accident occurred.

4. Defendant [DEFENDANT — SUBCONTRACTOR NAME] ("Subcontractor") is a [corporation/LLC/partnership] organized under the laws of [STATE], with its principal place of business at [ADDRESS], and was at all relevant times a subcontractor performing work at the construction site.

II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

5. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-2-14 (general jurisdiction of the Superior Court).

6. Venue is proper in [____] County under R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 9-4-3 and 9-4-4 because [Plaintiff dwells in this county / a Defendant dwells or is found in this county / a corporate Defendant is located here by its charter or holds its required or actual annual meetings here]. State the facts supporting the selected ground: [VENUE FACTS].

7. The amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional minimum for this Court.

III. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

8. On or about [DATE OF ACCIDENT], Plaintiff was employed by [PLAINTIFF'S EMPLOYER] as a [JOB TITLE/TRADE] and was performing construction work at a construction site located at [CONSTRUCTION SITE ADDRESS], County of [____], Rhode Island (the "Project").

9. The Project involved [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT].

10. At the time of the accident, Plaintiff was engaged in [DESCRIPTION OF PLAINTIFF'S WORK ACTIVITY AT TIME OF ACCIDENT].

11. On the date of the accident, [DESCRIBE THE ACCIDENT IN DETAIL].

12. As a direct and proximate result of the accident, Plaintiff sustained the following injuries: [DESCRIBE INJURIES].

13. Defendant [NAME] had responsibility for [DESCRIBE WORK OR SITE CONDITION] and failed to use reasonable care in that work. Identify a safety rule only after confirming that it applied to this Defendant, worksite, and activity on the incident date.

14. Defendants knew or should have known of the dangerous conditions at the construction site and failed to take reasonable steps to remedy or warn of such conditions.

IV. FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION — NEGLIGENCE

(Against All Defendants)

15. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.

16. Defendant [NAME] owed Plaintiff a duty of reasonable care in [DESCRIBE CONTROLLED WORK OR SITE CONDITION].

17. Defendants breached their duty of care by, among other things:

☐ Failing to provide adequate fall protection systems
☐ Failing to properly secure scaffolding and elevated work platforms
☐ Failing to maintain the construction site in a reasonably safe condition
☐ Failing to provide proper safety equipment and personal protective gear
☐ Failing to adequately train and supervise workers
☐ Failing to conduct adequate safety inspections
☐ Failing to warn of known hazardous conditions
☐ Failing to comply with applicable OSHA standards (29 C.F.R. Part 1926)
☐ [OTHER SPECIFIC NEGLIGENT ACTS OR OMISSIONS]

18. Defendants' negligence was the direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff's injuries and damages.

V. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION — PREMISES LIABILITY

(Against Property Owner and General Contractor)

19. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.

20. At all relevant times, Defendant Property Owner owned, controlled, managed, and/or maintained the premises located at [CONSTRUCTION SITE ADDRESS].

21. Defendant General Contractor exercised control over the construction site and the means and methods of the work performed thereon.

22. Defendants had a duty under Rhode Island common law to exercise reasonable care to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition and to warn persons lawfully on the premises of known or discoverable hazards.

23. Defendants breached their duty by permitting dangerous conditions to exist on the premises, including but not limited to: [DESCRIBE UNSAFE CONDITIONS].

24. The dangerous conditions were the direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff's injuries and damages.

VI. THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION — CONSTRUCTION SAFETY NEGLIGENCE

(Against Defendants with a Supported Duty and Role)

25. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.

26. Defendant [NAME] controlled [DESCRIBE WORK OR SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY] and failed to use reasonable care in that work.

27. Defendant's alleged safety failures included [SELECT ONLY FACTS SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE]:

☐ Unsafe scaffolding or platforms: [DESCRIBE]
☐ Missing fall protection: [DESCRIBE]
☐ Unsafe equipment operation: [DESCRIBE]
☐ Unsafe excavation: [DESCRIBE]
☐ Other unsafe conduct: [DESCRIBE]

28. Identify any federal safety standard only after confirming that it governed this Defendant, activity, and worksite on the incident date. A regulatory violation here does not itself establish a private OSHA damages claim or automatic negligence effect. See 29 U.S.C. § 653(b)(4).

29. The safety conduct alleged above supports Plaintiff's negligence claim and directly and proximately caused Plaintiff's injuries and damages.

VII. FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION — ADDITIONAL SAFETY NEGLIGENCE

(Against All Defendants)

30. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.

31. If a current safety rule governed Defendant [NAME] and the work at issue, identify it here: [RULE AND EFFECTIVE DATE]. Describe the conduct that breached the applicable duty: [FACTS].

32. Plaintiff was [DESCRIBE PROTECTED STATUS] at the worksite when the unsafe conduct occurred.

33. That conduct directly and proximately caused [DESCRIBE INJURY].

34. The pleaded safety conduct supports the negligence claim above. State a further civil effect only after identifying current Rhode Island authority for this Defendant, duty, and injury; no separate OSHA damages remedy is sought. See 29 U.S.C. § 653(b)(4).

VIII. FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION — THIRD-PARTY LIABILITY

(Against Defendants Other Than Plaintiff's Employer)

35. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.

36. At all relevant times, Plaintiff's direct employer was [EMPLOYER NAME], and Plaintiff was covered by workers' compensation insurance pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-1 et seq.

37. Defendants [LIST THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANTS] were not Plaintiff's employer and are not entitled to the protections of the exclusive remedy doctrine under R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-20.

38. These Defendants owed Plaintiff an independent duty of care that was separate and distinct from any duty owed by Plaintiff's direct employer.

39. These Defendants breached their independent duty of care, and such breach was a direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff's injuries and damages.

IX. DAMAGES

40. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligent, wrongful, and unlawful conduct, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer the following categories of damages:

Economic Damages:

☐ Past medical expenses
☐ Future medical expenses
☐ Past lost wages and earnings
☐ Future lost wages and diminished earning capacity
☐ Rehabilitation and therapy costs
☐ Property damage
☐ Other economic losses: [DESCRIBE]

Noneconomic Damages:

☐ Physical pain and suffering
☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life
☐ Permanent disability and disfigurement

X. COMPARATIVE FAULT

41. Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4, Rhode Island follows a pure comparative negligence system. Plaintiff's recovery shall be diminished in proportion to Plaintiff's percentage of fault, if any, but shall not be barred.

XI. JURY DEMAND

42. Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

XII. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully prays for judgment against Defendants, jointly and severally, as follows:

1. Compensatory damages, both economic and noneconomic, in an amount to be determined at trial;
2. Punitive damages if the evidence establishes willful, reckless, or wicked conduct amounting to criminality under Rhode Island law;
3. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as allowed by law;
4. Costs of suit and reasonable attorney's fees as permitted by law;
5. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.

XIII. VERIFICATION

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
COUNTY OF [________________________________]

I, [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME], being first duly sworn, state that I am the Plaintiff in the above-entitled action, that I have read the foregoing Complaint, and that the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

_________________________________________
[PLAINTIFF FULL NAME]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this [____] day of [________], [____].

_________________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME], Bar No. [____]
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY], Rhode Island [ZIP]
Telephone: [____]
Email: [____]

Attorney for Plaintiff

STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES — RHODE ISLAND

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14 — Statute of limitations for personal injury
• R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4 — Pure comparative negligence
• R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-1 et seq. — Workers' Compensation Act
• R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-58 — Third-party liability
• 29 C.F.R. Part 1926 — Federal OSHA construction safety standards
• Massart v. Toys R Us, Inc., 708 A.2d 187 (R.I. 1998)
• Rodrigues v. DePasquale Building and Realty Co., 926 A.2d 616 (R.I. 2007)