Crane dropped load on man's head, suit claims

A man has filed suit against the company that he claims allowed its employee to drop a load from a crane onto his head.

Joseph Sinovic claims he was working for Ben Hur on Nov. 10, 2008, at the Baldwin Powerhouse in Baldwin in Randolph County when the incident occurred.

An employee of defendant Budrovich Contracting Company operated a crane in an attempt to load material when the load abruptly dropped on Sinovic's head, according to the complaint filed Sept. 17 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the incident, Sinovic endured a great deal of pain and suffering, suffered serious disfigurement, lost his normal life and has been prevented from working in his normal fashion, the suit states. In addition, Sinovic lost wages and incurred medical costs, the complaint says.

Sinovic blames Budrovich for causing the incident, saying its employee operated the crane in such a manner that he dropped the load onto Sinovic's head, failed to train the crane's operator, failed to keep the load clear of Sinovic, moved a load over Sinovic and failed to warn Sinovic of the load over his head.

In addition to Budrovich, Sinovic names Power Maintenance Constructors as a defendant, saying it has control over the work at the Baldwin Powerhouse site. He also names Ben Hur Construction Company as a respondent in discovery, saying he believes it has information about the accident that it has not released.

In his three-count complaint, Sinovic is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

Eric Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick Law Offices in Belleville will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-482.