The family of Jose Rodolfo Garcia‑Sanchez, 34, has taken their fight to court, filing a wrongful‑death lawsuit after he fell down an elevator shaft during asbestos‑abatement work at the former AT&T building in downtown Kansas City. The petition, filed this week in Jackson County Circuit Court, claims the site was left in near‑total darkness, alleges that crucial elevator safeguards did not work, names multiple contractors, property owners and developers, and seeks damages tied to the fatal mid‑July 2023 fall.
What happened
According to KCTV5, Garcia‑Sanchez fell about 14 stories down a freight‑elevator shaft while hauling asbestos‑containing material during a renovation project at 500 E. 8th St. The station reports he had recently been relocated from Indianapolis and was working at the downtown site through a temporary‑staffing placement at the time of the fall.
Allegations in the complaint
As reported by The Kansas City Star, the family’s petition paints a picture of an unsafe worksite, citing inadequate lighting and what it describes as failed elevator safety systems, including an emergency phone the suit says did not function. The Star cites an OSHA inspection report placing the fall at about 7 p.m. on July 17, 2023. The complaint argues that defendants failed to comply with federal and state safety standards, directed workers to use the freight elevator despite known hazards, and that Garcia‑Sanchez died of blunt‑force trauma. The Star also notes that OSHA opened probes after the incident, but its inspections ended without citations.
Earlier suit singled out elevator firms
A separate petition filed this spring targets elevator‑service companies Kone Inc., General Elevator and Hydraulics Inc., and Midwest Elevator Co., alleging those firms were contractually responsible for inspecting and maintaining the elevator used by workers. Per KCTV5, that earlier filing lays out claims of negligence and negligence per se and seeks more than $75,000 in damages.
Who’s named in the latest filing
The new complaint widens the net of defendants to include The Bernstein Co., entities affiliated with Welltower, the Kansas City Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, Paric, Infinity Resources Enterprises, and New Horizons Enterprises LLC, according to The Kansas City Star. The Star reports that New Horizons has responded to requests for comment, while other named parties did not immediately issue public statements.
Regulatory background and safety history
Industry coverage at the time noted that federal regulators examined the site after the 2023 fall and that OSHA opened an investigation during the former AT&T building’s office‑to‑residential conversion. Elevator World reported that the agency looked into the July 2023 incident as construction continued on the downtown redevelopment project. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection records, Paric Corporation appears in an inspection file listed as "Inspection: 314472937" with the Kansas City Area Office, indicating prior OSHA inspection activity involving that contractor. State equipment‑inspection records on MO.gov list an elevator with "Equipment ID 4419" (Manufacturer Kone, Year Installed 2008, Serial Number 20257641), providing official equipment details tied to the region's elevator registry.
Legal claims
The family’s petitions accuse defendants of negligence and violations of state elevator codes and safety standards, and seek compensation for medical and funeral expenses, along with loss of future earnings and companionship. The complaints urge the court to hold contractors and property owners liable for what the plaintiffs characterize as foreseeable dangers tied to poor lighting and equipment failures.
What’s next
The cases remain active in Jackson County Circuit Court, with local records and reporting indicating no trial dates have yet been set. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say they plan to push for accountability, while city and labor officials continue to call for tighter oversight of safety practices on major downtown redevelopment jobs.
