UChicago Construction Site Settlement Awards $23.5M to Family of Worker Killed

The family of David O'Donnell, a 27-year-old technical engineer who died after falling 140 feet from scaffolding at the University of Chicago Medical Center construction site, has reached a $23.5 million wrongful death settlement with Adjustable Forms Concrete and Turner Construction Co. The scaffolding collapsed due to high winds of 44 mph, despite being designed to withstand gusts up to 80-85 mph, exposing serious structural deficiencies and inadequate safety measures. Jeffrey Spyrka, a co-worker who also fell but survived with critical injuries, has filed a similar lawsuit that remains ongoing. O'Donnell's family expressed bittersweet relief at the settlement, hoping it will lead to improved safety protocols at construction sites. The settlement avoids prolonged litigation, but other claims from injured workers continue. Attorneys involved praised the resolution as a step toward healing for the family and emphasized the need for changes in construction safety practices.