Man’s shoulder injured when clerk at big box store drops wooden post on him

A 50-year-old bridge painter was in a large retail super store purchasing lumber to build a deck at home. A store employee who was helping the painter lift a large post from a high shelf dropped his end. The other end struck the painter’s shoulder and knocked him to the ground. The painter had two rotator cuff tears requiring surgery. He was eventually able to return to work with some difficulty. The super store initially denied all liability. The case settled shortly before trial for a substantial sum.