Paaske v. Perfex Corporation

Action for personal injuries commenced on December 8, 1961, by the plaintiff-appellant, Justin F. Paaske, against defendant-respondent,
Perfex Corporation. The complaint alleged that the plaintiff, a bricklayer, was injured when he fell from a scaffold while
constructing a wall on the Perfex premises; that the fall was caused by the negligence of Perfex in placing beams which protruded
beyond the building wall, in maintaining a place of employment in an unsafe condition for people to work, and in failing to
maintain said building in as safe a condition as the nature of the building would permit. Paaske prayed for damages in the
sum of $150,000. Perfex's answer denied that it maintained the premises in a state of disrepair, and denied that it was a place of employment
insofar as the plaintiff was concerned. The answer also set up an affirmative defense based upon the plaintiff's failure to
exercise due care for his own safety.