Hardhat’s record $62M NY jury award

A construction worker who was injured on the job has been awarded $62 million — the largest lawsuit verdict for a single plaintiff in New York state history.

The Queens Supreme Court jury unanimously ruled to dole out the money — $20 million for past pain and suffering, $42 million for future pain and suffering and $60,086.27 for previous medical expenses — to 26yearold Zeng Guang Lin.

The Chinese immigrant suffered a traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries in a 20foot fall off a roof while working a 2008 job in The Bronx for Hutch Realty Partners LLC.

“I was very moved by it. I was very emotional,” said Lin’s lead attorney, Benedict Morelli, who said the verdict brought his client to tears.

At trial, Morelli showed Lin’s CATscans and MRIs following the accident and brought in 20 witnesses to prove the construction company did not provide Lin with “proper safety devices.”

Morelli said he has “no idea” why the court gave $7 million more than he originally asked, but believes it’s because “the jury understood the case.”

The jury consisted of three men and three women, ranging in age from 30 to 70.

Morelli was happily surprised that the translated testimony from Lin and two family members, who speak only Mandarin, apparently didn’t sway the jurors against his client.

“It made you feel good that the jury system is still fair and it isn’t prejudicial,” he said.

Hutch Realty did not respond to a request for comment.

Sophia Rosenbaum