On August 26, 2016, a Staten Island Supreme Court Justice, reduced a jury verdict of $9.3 million to $6.7 million awarded to an ironworker struck on the back of the head by a 200 pound piece of concrete at a construction project at the Staten Island ferry terminal complex. The jury awarded $4.3 million for lost wages and medical expenses but the Court reduced the amount awarded by the jury for past and future pain and suffering from $5 million to $2.4 million.

The ironworker underwent a shoulder arthroscopy, cervical and lumbar fusion procedures with hardware permanently implanted in his neck and back. He explained to the jury that he lives in constant pain that varies in intensity. In terms of the change in the quality of life the ironworker testified that he really enjoyed and took pride in his work as a "connector" which is the most dangerous of all tasks as an ironworker. Very few ironworkers who have a dangerous job work as "connectors". He told the jury: "You have to be extremely strong and agile....We walk along the beams no matter how high they are ... It's not made for everyone...there's only two connectors on every job unless the building is as large as Tower One of the Freedom Tower. But that only had four connectors on it."