$1.4M lawsuit claims man lost leg after accident at West Edmonton Mall

West Edmonton Mall faces a $1.4-million lawsuit, launched by the family of an Edmonton man who claims he had a leg amputated after being hit by a piece of construction equipment while visiting the mall.

The lawsuit claims that Juanito Gonzales was visiting the mall in June when he was struck by a snorkel lift, which is used to allow workers to reach high places. The equipment was being used by a drywall company, doing construction work in the mall.

The family’s lawyer says the lift then ran over Gonzales.

As a result of the accident, the lawsuit claims Gonzales had to have his leg amputated and suffered a concussion, among other injuries.

The suit claims the mall was negligent and failed to protect the safety of Gonzales and other shoppers, and accuses it of not warning people about the danger the equipment posed.

Also named as defendants in the lawsuit are the construction company, Bay Drywall, and the unnamed employee who was operating the lift.

The suit accused the employee of operating the lift without “due care and attention” and claims he failed to give any indication the equipment was moving.

It also says the company should have had a second employee acting as a look-out as the equipment was moved.

The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. None of the defendants have yet statements of defence.