Carpenter sues after falling on improperly stacked drywall

A Missouri man blames a drywall company for causing his fall after he says the company improperly stacked drywall on the floor.

Anthony L. Huff filed a lawsuit May 13 in Madison County Circuit Court against P&A Drywall Supply.

Huff claims he worked as a journeyman carpenter for John Bender when Bender assigned him to work at an Illinois residence to hang drywall on May 28, 2008.

P&A delivered drywall to the site where Bender assigned Huff to hang it, according to the complaint. However, P&A improperly stacked the drywall when delivering it, laying 16-foot pieces on top of 14-foot sections, the suit states.

"As a direct result of one or more of the aforementioned acts of negligence by defendant P&A Drywall Supply, plaintiff stepped onto the top sheet of drywall, it broke causing him to fall," the complaint says.

Because of his fall, Huff claims he sustained serious and permanent injuries to his left ankle, incurred medical costs and lost wages.

He blames P&A for causing his fall, saying the company negligently stacked 14-foot drywall under 16-foot sections, causing an unsupported ledge; failed to stack the drywall against the wall rather than flat on the floor; and failed to warn Huff that its method of stacking drywall would not support his weight.

In his complaint, Huff seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Lanny Darr of Schrempf, Kelly, Napp and Darr in Alton will be representing him.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-515.