From Denied Claim to $100K: Winning Justice for an Assaulted Carpenter | August 2026

In September 2020, a carpenter from New Jersey was working on a job site in Manhattan when he was confronted by his company’s foreman and a coworker. After trying to de-escalate the situation, the carpenter was violently attacked by both men, who put him in a headlock, threw him to the ground, and beat him. Police transported the injured carpenter to a nearby Hospital with severe damage to his right arm, neck, back, head, right leg, and ear.

When our client first turned to McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson & Riordan, LLP in November 2020, he had no prior knowledge of the workers’ compensation system and possessed no initial evidence to prove his claim. Our team immediately stepped in and started tracking down medical providers to gather full hospital records and securing his weekly wage replacement checks while he was out of work. The case was particularly sensitive because both assailants were related to the drywall company owner. To protect themselves, the employer and carrier attempted to shift blame onto our client and deny his claim entirely. Attorney Zachary Dworken fiercely defended our client’s character, countering the insurance carrier with video evidence, hospital documentation, and witness testimony.

In April 2021, Attorney Oksana Davis scored an essential victory before the Workers’ Compensation Board by formally establishing his neck, back, hands, foot, ear, and shoulder as recognized sites of injury. However, the physical damage was only part of his battle. By early 2021, the trauma of the violent assault and ongoing stress from his employer resulted in significant psychological injuries. Recognizing the vital role of mental health in workers’ compensation, our firm actively referred him to specialists and fought to hold the employer accountable for both his physical and psychological injuries.

Over the next several years, our client endured continuous medical treatments, ankle surgery, and extensive physical therapy. Despite his urgent need for care, the insurance carrier continued to place obstacles at every step like repeatedly refusing to approve necessary surgeries. Our legal team spent nearly a year litigating the dispute, continually submitting medical evidence until the carrier was finally forced to approve the surgery.

By February 2025, after nearly five years of fighting, Partner James Accardi initiated direct outreach to the insurance carrier and employer to begin negotiating a comprehensive resolution. Through months of persistent dialogue, our team successfully drafted a final settlement agreement. In July 2026, Attorney Dionisios Georgatos prepared our client for the final hearing before the Workers’ Compensation Board, thoroughly explaining the agreement terms and finalizing a $100,000 settlement to bring a long, grueling chapter to a triumphant close.

This case demonstrates that no matter how complex or hostile your employer and their insurance company become, you do not have to back down. At McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson & Riordan, LLP, we recognize that true recovery covers both physical and mental health injuries. We are dedicated to standing by injured workers through every obstacle and securing the full compensation they deserve.

If you’ve been injured on the job, don’t navigate the complex workers’ compensation system alone. For more information or to discuss your case, contact our office at (866) 557-7500 to schedule your free consultation today.