On May 15, 2019 at 7:45 a.m., emergency crews responded to Devon Tower, Oklahoma’s tallest skyscraper, where two window washers were stuck on a cable-suspended scaffold became loose, with winds causing it to swing wildly out-of-control. Window glass was smashed; debris fell from 800 feet in the air. The insurance company for the owner of the tower sued the window washers, saying that their negligent use of the building’s equipment caused substantial damage. The loss was said be over $6 million. The window washers came to us for help.

Our investigation found that it was the building’s owner who controlled, maintained, and chose to keep using a defective scaffold despite long-known control and safety issues that should have kept the scaffold out of service until repairs were performed.

A weeks-long jury trial resulted in a full defense verdict that exonerated the window washers on every one of the legal claims against them. That the jury returned its verdict in just two hours of deliberation –not even enough time to order a lunch-- is a testament to the litigation team, led by Dan Folluo, Kerry Lewis, and Eric Clark.

Our firm works daily with builders, architects and trades when their projects hit a snag or become entangled in a mess of someone else’s making. If you ever find yourself yo-yoing 50 stories over downtown Oklahoma City, call 911!  Once you’re safely down, give us a call.