Man Files Suit After Son's Fatal Fall From Roof

A man has filed a negligence suit against the owners and contractors of a building in Arlington Heights, Illinois after his son died from the personal injuries he suffered in a fall from the roof after slipping on ice.

The suit filed by Michael Pontarelli is in conflict with the findings of the Cook County, Illinois Medical Examiner’s office, which ruled 25-year-old Mundelein, Illinois resident Michael Pontarelli Jr.’s death a suicide.

Pontarelli Sr. filed the suit in Cook County Circuit Court against SB Arlington Funding Company and H.P. 95 Algonquin after the death of his son on January 23, 2008.

According to the suit, at the time of the incident, Pontarelli Jr. was employed at an AT&T office inside the building. The suit says an unlocked door allowed him access to the roof, which was covered with snow and ice that caused him to slip and fall to his death.

The suit alleges negligence on the part of SB Arlington, the owner of the building, and H.P. 95 Algonquin, the business contracted to conduct maintenance on the building, for failure to prevent rooftop access, failure to properly monitor rooftop construction work, and failure to ensure the rooftop was locked.

According to the autopsy conducted by the medical examiner’s office, Pontarelli Jr. died from multiple injuries caused by a fall from height. The medical examiner’s office ruled the death a suicide.

Pontarelli seeks damages in excess of $50,000 from the four-count suit.