New York Landscaper Awarded $11.2M in Civil Suit

A New York landscaper who lost his legs on the job has been awarded $11.2 million.

A Westchester County jury found the landscaping company 60 percent liable for Robert Loja’s injuries.

Loja worked for Sleepy Hollow Landscaping. He was unloading a trailer in Tarrytown on Oct. 24, 2008, when he was struck by a car driven by Eileen Lavelle.

Lavelle said she was blinded by sun glare, hit a safety cone and a “men working” sign before striking Loja.

The jury found Lavelle and her mother, who owned the car, 10 percent liable.

It also found Loja 30 percent liable for the crash because it said he could have parked the trailer in a safer place.

The Journal News said the verdict was reached Friday after a six-week trial.