California is home to many apartment complexes, most of which are overseen by property managers. These dwellings also typically have maintenance workers on the payroll, who might handle anything from minor sink repairs in a residence to emergencies, such as a rupture in a mainline water pipe. The latter was thought to be the issue when a maintenance worker in another state recently stepped onto an apartment balcony to check the pipes.
The 53-year-old worker was going to celebrate his 29th wedding anniversary on Christmas. However, he did not live long enough to do so. An apartment owner discovered the man on the balcony. Seeing him, the owner got a gun and fired it at the man through the window.
Rescue workers transported the injured worker to a hospital
The maintenance worker was rushed to a hospital. Sadly, he did not survive. The surviving family includes his wife and five sons. The apartment owner explained that he shot the man because he thought he was a burglar.
The case remains under investigation. For maintenance workers in California and beyond, it would be reasonable to expect an employer to notify a tenant ahead of time if a worker is going to be on a private balcony checking pipes or wiring or some other issue. In certain circumstances, not doing so might be considered gross negligence, which placed a worker at risk. Spouses who are widowed by such events are often able to seek justice by filing wrongful death claims in a civil court against those believed to be responsible for their loved ones’ deaths. In this instance, an attorney can help determine the possible basis for legal recourse against the employer and/or the apartment owner.