A construction worker has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging negligence and unlawful employment practices. Daylier Leyva Fajardo filed the complaint in the Circuit Court of the 64th Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on August 12, 2024, against Direct Express Construction, LLC.

According to the court documents, Fajardo was employed by Direct Express Construction as a laborer and construction worker from November 2022 until January 20, 2023. On that day, while performing his duties, he suffered a traumatic injury to his right eye when a steel cable pierced it. The plaintiff claims that the defendant failed to provide necessary protective gear such as masks or safety glasses that could have prevented the injury. Additionally, there was no proper supervision or work partner available at the time of the accident.

Fajardo immediately reported his injury to his supervisor Santiago but did not receive any workers’ compensation benefits. Despite seeking emergency medical care on his own and requesting assistance from Santiago and Joseph V Cavaleri Jr., the owner of Direct Express Construction, Fajardo’s pleas for help were ignored. Instead of providing support or benefits as required by law, Santiago informed Fajardo that he was fired shortly after reporting his injury.