--- title: "Louisiana Jury Awards $411M Verdict Against Brock Services After Workplace Accident Paralyzes Worker" meta: "og:description": "Jose Valdivia wins record $411M verdict after workplace injury leaves him paralyzed; jury finds Brock Services liable for unsafe work practices." "og:title": "Louisiana Jury Awards $411M Verdict Against Brock Services After Workplace Accident Paralyzes Worker" description: "Jose Valdivia wins record $411M verdict after workplace injury leaves him paralyzed; jury finds Brock Services liable for unsafe work practices." --- July 24, 2025 # **Louisiana Jury Awards $411M Verdict Against Brock Services After Workplace Accident Paralyzes Worker** Jose Valdivia wins record $411M verdict after workplace injury leaves him paralyzed; jury finds Brock Services liable for unsafe work practices. [**Personal Injury and Torts**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker/jury-verdict/category/personal-injury-and-torts) ### **Outline** Author ![](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) **Angad Chatha****Angad Chatha is a law graduate from Amritsar, Punjab, with over two years of experience in legal research and analysis. He has developed a strong niche in working with expert witnesses, providing critical support in preparing legal research and case studies. Known for his analytical mindset and attention to detail, Angad consistently delivers thorough and well-grounded insights that enhance case summaries. His commitment to accuracy and a deep understanding of legal frameworks make him a valuable asset in complex legal sector.** ![Article Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp) In a historic Louisiana case, Jose Valdivia was awarded $411 million after a scaffolding accident at a Phillips 66 refinery left him paralyzed. The jury found Brock Services LLC liable for failing to ensure a safe workplace and for attempting to cover up the incident. Valdivia, once a healthy 25-year-old, now requires full-time care. The verdict includes damages for pain, suffering, medical expenses, and lost earnings, marking the largest single-plaintiff award in state history. ## Case Background Jose Valdivia filed a [personal injury lawsuit](https://jurimatic.com/category/personal-injury-and-torts/) against Brock Services LLC after a worksite injury left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. The lawsuit was filed in the [19th Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana](https://www.19thjdc.org/), and led to a $411 million verdict, the largest in Louisiana history for a single plaintiff. [Case number: C-7331101] #### Cause Jose Valdivia worked for Brock Services LLC, a major industrial scaffolding company. On August 2, 2022, when he was 25 years old, Valdivia was working at a Phillips 66 refinery in Lake Charles. There, a coworker nicknamed “Crazy Mike” and “Walking Hazard Mike” accidentally dropped a 20-pound scaffold bar on his head. The impact caused serious injuries. Valdivia was rushed to the hospital for treatment. #### Injury Despite wearing a hard hat and appropriate PPE, Valdivia was paralyzed and was diagnosed with a severe spinal cord and brain injury. He could hardly speak, became confined to a wheelchair and his sister became his primary caregiver. #### Damages Jose earned $40,000 per year at Brock and paid for his sister’s college tuition. She had to leave school to care for him full-time. The lawsuit sought compensation for the financial and medical losses suffered by Jose and his family. ### Key Arguments and Proceedings #### Legal Representation - **Plaintiff(s):**Jose Valdivia - **Counsel for Plaintiff(s):**Roland Christensen | Alec Paradowski | Jonathan Mack | Tony Clayton | Michael Fruge | Brilliant Clayton - **Defendant(s):**Brock Services LLC #### Key Arguments and Remarks by Counsel Plaintiff's attorneys Roland Christensen, Alec Paradowski, and Jonathan Mack of Arnold & Itkin, along with Tony Clayton, Michael Fruge, and Brilliant Clayton of Clayton Fruge Ward, claimed that unsafe work planning, poor safety practices, and lack of supervision led to Jose’s accident. "We argued that Brock Services was responsible for the accident, so it was responsible for Jose’s physical pain and suffering, mental pain, anguish, distress, loss of enjoyment, impairment, loss of earnings, medical expenses, and all other losses related to the accident." #### Defense Rather than investigating the incident, Brock Services attempted to cover it up. Meanwhile, its key witness, Josh Miller, posted online, bragging about having zero recordable injuries—even as Jose remained paralyzed and the case proceeded through litigation. Throughout the trial, Brock refused to accept responsibility or report the incident. Instead, its defense relied on claiming that Jose lied and faked his injuries. ### Jury Verdict On February 28, 2025, after a week-long trial, the jury returned a $411 million verdict against Brock Services LLC, after deliberating for two hours. The jury found that Brock Services caused the incident on August 2, 2022, and that its conduct was either intentional or the incident was substantially certain to occur from its perspective (including that of its agents or employees). It was also affirmed that Jose had suffered injuries as a result of the incident on August 2, 2022. The jury awarded Valdivia the following to compensate him: - **Past medical damages:** $594,890.36 - **Future and medical life care expenses:** $14 million - **Past lost wages:** $92,497 - **Future lost wages:** $2.5 million - **Past physical pain and suffering:** $10 million - **Future physical pain and suffering:** $50 million - **Past mental pain, anguish, and emotional distress:** $10 million - **Future mental pain, anguish, and emotional distress:** $95 million The total verdict was $411,687,387.36. #### Post-Verdict Remarks “I am grateful for the jury’s courage standing up to a very large company like Brock and telling Brock its conduct was unacceptable,” said Roland Christensen. “Without jury trials like this one, those who do the hardest and most dangerous work go unprotected. My hope is that this verdict will cause serious change in the scaffold industry to actually put safety first.” "All of us are immensely proud of this verdict and relieved for Jose and his family. We look forward to seeing his family reclaim their future while Jose gets the absolute best care available." #### Sources: [Attorney Roland Christensen's LinkedIn Post](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rolandchristensen_tonight-we-just-won-the-largest-single-plaintiff-activity-7301423763122765825-Wg8p/) [Arnold & Itkin Law Firm](https://www.arnolditkin.com/news/2025/firm-sets-new-verdict-record-in-louisiana-for-co/) [Louisiana Record](https://louisianarecord.com/stories/670290765-injured-refinery-construction-worker-gets-record-411m-verdict) [Share with Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker) [Share with X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker&text=x) [Share with LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker) [Share with Email](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker/mailto:?body=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker&subject=email) [Share with WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker%20whatsapp) ### **Find your next Expert Witness today** ![Sanjay Adhia](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Sanjay Adhia** Forensic Psychiastry ![George Reis](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **George Reis** Forensic Imaging ![Maria Babinetz](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/louisiana-jury-awards-411m-verdict-against-brock-services-after-workplace-accident-paralyzes-worker/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Maria Babinetz** Vocational Rehabilitation Find and retain experts without brokerage or upcharge. ### Looking for more? 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