Suit blames Condell contractors for man’s death

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Updated: April 12, 2011 4:46AM

A relative of a hospital worker killed in November after being pinned by 1,400 pounds of drywall at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville is seeking $600,000 in damages from two construction companies.

A lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that Chicago-based Pepper Construction and its subcontractor, R.G. Construction, maintained an unsafe construction site at the Libertyville hospital, causing the death of Rajmund Zalewa, 26, of Prospect Heights.

The suit argues that the construction companies were negligent in failing to warn Zalewa about the dangers of the site and for storing equipment improperly, among other things.

Antoni Zalewa, described as the administrator of Rajmund Zalewa’s estate, is seeking $600,000 in damages — $50,000 each for 12 counts.

Rajmund Zalewa was in the construction area of the hospital, 801 S. Milwaukee Ave., when seven sheets of lead-lined drywall fell on him for an unknown reason, Occupational Health and Safety Administration spokesman Diane Turek said in November.

“It was very unfortunate,” said Turek, noting that each sheet of drywall weighs 200 pounds.

Rajmund Zalewa, described as a “well-respected” member of the hospital’s housekeeping department, was found about 11 p.m., pinned by a heavy piece of drywall in a storage area, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

It was not clear when the incident actually happened, but the worker was on duty when it happened, officials said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital less than an hour later.

Representatives of Pepper Construction and R.G. Construction were unavailable for comment Thursday.