Tapia v. Panhandle Steel Erectors Company

OPINION

NOBLE, Justice.

Panhandle Steel Erectors Company (hereafter termed Panhandle) and Joe G. Mysz-kowski, defendants below, have appealed from a $40,000 judgment for personal injuries suffered by Bennie Tapia, plaintiff below, entered pursuant to a jury verdict.

Tapia fell from a ladder and was injured while working as a welder on a building being constructed for the University of New Mexico. His employer, Underwood-Testman Company, was the project’s general contractor; Panhandle was a subcontractor; and defendant Myszkowski was Panhandle’s employee. There was testimony that 2x4 boards were…