A construction worker’s harrowing fall from scaffolding has led to a significant lawsuit against two companies. On July 15, 2024, Leonel Calvillo filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, accusing Barar Contracting, LLC and FrankCrum 14, Inc. of negligence and vicarious liability.

Leonel Calvillo, a resident of Okeechobee, Florida, began working for Barar Contracting in 2018. Barar Contracting is a construction company specializing in marine and outdoor projects. In January 2023, Barar entered into a Client Service Agreement with FrankCrum 14, Inc., a Professional Employer Organization offering outsourced human resources services. This agreement made Calvillo a co-employee of both companies.

The incident that sparked the lawsuit occurred on November 1, 2023. Calvillo was assigned to install siding on a barn at the J.W. Watson Road properties in Lake Placid, Florida. While working on scaffolding constructed by Barar Contracting, he fell approximately 16 feet, fracturing his right leg and foot. The complaint alleges that the scaffolding was improperly built and lacked necessary safety features such as fall protection systems and guard rails.