NYC DEMOLITION COMPANY TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYES $14 MILLION FOR DENYING WORKERS COMP—MDASR LLP

NOVEMBER 2025

In a significant enforcement action by the Attorney General’s Office, a New York City Demolition Company, Alba Services, has been ordered to pay a combined restitution of $14 million to workers following a state investigation into alleged labor and work-safety violations. Specifically alleging that the demolition company denied their employees Workers’ Compensation for years. The agreement to pay the fines & restitution reflect the scrutiny and negligence of worker protections— Especially in physically-risky industries where work injuries occur at a much higher rate and often require medical care.

 

The investigation found that the company failed to uphold several fundamental workers compensation guidelines & protections. They are accused of:

– Under-reporting and falsely reporting injuries when their employees are hurt-at-work.

Not reporting a work-injury goes against many common policies. Falsely minimizing or negating an injury when an employee reports one is illegal and goes against Section 110 of the New York State Workers Compensation law. “An employer who refuses or neglects to make a report or to keep records as required by this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and/or punishable by a fine”.

-Discouraging & retaliating against employees who attempted to start Workers’ Compensation claims after suffering a work injury.

Unfortunately, it is common practice for employers to intimidate and distort facts to steer employees away from filing claims with the Workers’ Compensation Board. In this case, Alba services explicitly instructed injured workers to not file claims and retaliated against employees who did.

-Directing employees to visit preferred clinics and health providers that were controlled by the company.

Workers’ Compensation claims and benefits are all based off of medical reports and doctor’s commentary. Often, employers and insurance carriers have a rolodex of health care providers they have an understanding with. These providers understand to misrepresent the nature of work-related injuries to impede compensable claims.

-Often targeting immigrants and groups that are legally vulnerable.

This practice is an unfortunate but common one across many industries. Employers and insurance carriers rely on misinformation and scare tactics for employees who do not have a solid legal status in the U.S to not practice their general rights as workers in the state of New York. Workers’ Compensation, which is a state-mandated insurance program, does NOT specifically look into a claimant’s legal status—It holds no bearing on legitimacy of a Workers’ Compensation claim. Yet, many undocumented workers are scared in to believing their citizenship status automatically voids a workers’ compensation claim which is entirely FALSE.

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Between the years 2016-2024 it is believed that Alba reported less than half of the injuries it was legally required too, according to state investigators. The owner of the company, Andrew Horan was known for heavily interfering, harassing, and manipulation when it came to the employees who reported work injuries. He allegedly sent texts to a foreman in his company asking for the names and information of employees who filed claims, going as far as offering to exchange the information for money. The demolition company was known for sending injured workers to care centers that they already had a prior agreement with, even when the injuries required a hospital emergency room. Those care centers allegedly minimized medical reports to impede workers’ compensation claims.

“For nearly a decade, Alba silenced injured workers, manipulated insurance costs, and allowed a culture of harassment to fester on its worksites... We have made sure that Alba can no longer threaten, intimidate or exploit its workforce. My office will never allow companies to cheat workers out of their rights or create hostile workplaces that endanger their safety and dignity.”- Attorney General Letitia James

When companies purposely steer their injured employees away from unbiased medical evaluations and penalize employees for filing a claim to save themselves and insurance carriers money—It is a clear & systematic violation of their industry’s trust, and New Yorks state’s attitude towards protecting the working classes. These practices not only violated the letter of the law but also indicated a very real and problematic dynamic between employers, their insurance carrier, and hard-working industries that keep this country’s economy moving.

The 700+ workers whose work injuries were neglected or were physically/emotionally/sexually harassed between the years of 2016 & 2024 will be receiving a portion of the $14 Million dollar restitution being paid by Alba Services. Penalties like this will hopefully serve as a message to other companies and industries to maintain transparency and provide safe working environments for their employees. For the workers themselves, this outcome brings overdue recognition of what unions and labor-advocacy groups have long called out—The treatment of workers who lack union leverage or bargaining power.

Blue-Collar industries such as demolition are notorious for demanding physically strenuous work. Dangerous work sites, heavy equipment, and other hazards that would otherwise not be in issue in other industries make it imperative to ensure employees are taken care of. When a company profits off work that is considered to be dangerous—Workers shouldn’t have to advocate for themselves. It is essential to retain a Workers’ Compensation attorney. With over 70 years of experience, representation across every industry, and offices throughout New York State, the Law Offices of McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson & Riordan LLP is equipped to ensure the best possible outcome for Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability, and Disability Pension cases.

Sources:

Gonella, Catalina. “NYC Demolition Company Will Have to Pay Workers Combined $1.4 M Over Alleged Violations.” Gothamist, 21 Oct. 2025, https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-demolition-company-will-have-to-pay-workers-combined-14m-over-alleged-violations.

Author: Brian Molina (Marketing Coordinator & Paralegal)

If you or a loved one has been impacted by an injury on the job, know that you’re not alone. The experienced attorneys at McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson, & Riordan, LLP are here to advocate for your rights and ensure you receive the protection and compensation you deserve.

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