Charlotte construction firms sued over death of worker who fell from 19th floor of building

The estate of Juventino Mata-Hernandez has filed a civil suit against three companies involved in the construction of Legacy Union in uptown Charlotte.

Mata-Hernandez died at age 24 in 2018 after falling 19 stories while working as a mason with a Legacy Union subcontractor. Legacy Union is located on the former Charlotte Observer site.

The lawsuit is against Carolina Elevator Service, Inc., Gilbane Building Company and Gilbane ,Inc. and USA Hoist Company Inc.

Gilbane Building Company received $20,300 in fines from the North Carolina Department of Labor following Mata-Hernadez’s death, the Observer’s news partner, WBTV reported in late 2018.

According to the suit filed by lawyers Amanda Mingo and Fred DeVore III, an elevator hoist malfunction due to negligence was the cause of Mata-Hernandez’s death.

Mata-Hernandez’s death “was proximately caused by the defendants’ negligence, or other misconduct and would have, if the decedent had lived, entitled him to bring an action for damages,” the suit claims.

The suit seeks compensation for pain and suffering, funeral expenses and damages in excess of $25,000.

Mata-Hernandez is survived by his five-year-old daughter.

Lawyers for the companies being sued did not respond to Observer requests for comment this week.