After a protracted legal struggle that lasted over four years, Mr. Chen, a construction worker who suffered a severe accident on the job in Hawaii, secured a $6.6 million settlement. The accident rendered him primarily wheelchair-bound and in need of daily assistance. At a press conference on Wednesday, Jeremy O'Steen, partner at the personal injury law firm Miyashita & O'Steen, shared the details, stating, "Due to unsafe work practices, including a lack of appropriate safety training, supervision and safety equipment, Mr. Chen fell," as reported by KITV.
Mr. Chen's plight to slowly rebuild his life involves tremendous emotional and physical demands on his entire family. His daughter, Kara Chen, conveyed through an interpreter, "My dad is currently recovering okay, but every day he has a lot of pain on his body. So he’s not very emotionally very stable," she explained, as per an interview by KHON2. The family has had to adjust significantly, with all members taking turns to care for Mr. Chen, which has limited their ability to work full time.
Following this settlement, there have been calls for stronger safety measures within the construction industry. O'Steen urged all construction sites to "review their safety policies and for workers to know their rights," according to KHON2. He emphasized the importance of not only having formal policies in place but also ensuring their strict enforcement, stressing that without supervision, policies are ineffectual.
In response to workplace incidents, calls for increased safety protocols and rights education are now at the forefront. To support these efforts, the law firm Miyashita & O'Steen is donating $50,000 to the Hawaii Workers Center, a non-profit organization that provides resources for workers, especially those for whom English is not their first language. Reverend Sam Domingo, Board President of the center, acknowledged the challenges faced by immigrant workers: "They need an advocate and they also need for themselves to find an agency that they can take responsibility and really hold their employers accountable," he emphasized, as noted by KHON2. The firm's contribution will support the Workers Center's Know Your Rights Training program, which aims to reduce future worksite injuries. Interested individuals can contact the Hawaii Workers Center for more information.
