The case was against Vratsinas Construction, a global firm that built Atlantic Station, and argued before Judge Myra Dixon.
On Feb. 10, 2005, Hall, working for a local security system installation firm, was severely injured from a ladder fall. The case was brought because Vratsinas had earlier made the decision that Hall could not use a scissor lift to do ceiling work at the IKEA.
According to Douglasville lawyer John Sherrod, the lift offered better fall protection and was the safer equipment. The evidence showed that the defendant was concerned about lighting grate damage and insisted on ladder usage.
"Work place safety became the theme," Sherrod said. "The important message is that these huge employers cannot put property over people."
Hall said that the six-year wait was hard emotionally and physically. Since the injury he has undergone five extremely grueling surgeries, including knee replacement – twice after a staph infection caused the first one to be redone.
"It was a long time coming and at times I didn't think this day would ever come," Hall said. "Now that it has happened it's nice to have closure on that chapter in my life. The physical part – it is what it is. But the mental aspect – to have 12 people to agree that I had been done wrong. That is a very healing thing."
Hall still walks with a cane and struggles with mobility. He hopes to use the award to help with the enormous medical bills and lost salary that resulted from the incident. He also hopes to use some to help him continue his education.
"My dream is to someday be a forensic artist with the FBI," Hall said. "I hope this allows me to be able to pursue that."
His attorney said even though the money will help, it doesn't change the facts of what happened in this case.
"Sadly, this was all avoidable," Sherrod said. "And now you have a great guy whose life is forever changed."
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