Cota v. Rocheleau

The plaintiff suffered personal injuries in a fall from a staging ejected by the defendant Orel Rocheleau in the home which he and the defendant Corinne Rocheleau own together in South Burlington. The authority of Orel Rocheleau to act for his codefendant is not questioned, and since he is directly involved, in the matters before us he is referred to as the defendant.

The defendant was formerly a building contractor. He had been engaged in this work for about twenty five years; first as a construction foreman and later in his own construction business. In connection with this work he acquired…