[ Originally published on: Friday, May 25, 2007 ]
TURNERS FALLS -- A man who claims he was nearly electrocuted in a work-related accident at the old Strathmore paper mill is suing the building owner for at least $1 million.
''These were horrific injuries,'' said Joseph D. Bernard of Springfield, the lawyer for Jonathan Tanzer, who was injured at the mill on May 6. ''There will be significant, permanent injuries. The skin literally melted off parts of his body. He's lucky to be alive.''
On Monday, the sheriff's office attached a million-dollar lien on all real estate owned by Western Properties LLC, which is also known as Western Recycling of Belmont. Among its properties is the old Strathmore paper mill, which is in the process of being sold. The complaint also names Jerry L. Jones, manager of the Strathmore property.
''His lawsuit is totally without merit,'' said Jones, when reached by telephone Thursday night. ''It will be proven in court.''
''He has minor burns,'' Jones added.
In the complaint filed in Franklin Superior Court last week, Tanzer says Jones told him to remove copper wiring from the former Strathmore building.
Tanzer said Jones told him the wiring was not ''live,'' and that Jones was standing behind him at the time of the accident.
Tanzer said he had been taken to a local hospital, then moved to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, where he was a patient for several days.
In the complaint, Tanzer said he was immediately blinded, and ''could not see for a lengthy period.'' He said his eyesight is returning, but he fears he may have lasting vision problems.
According to the complaint, Tanzer sustained several burns and underwent surgery on May 11 to remove burnt and dead skin, and to graft new skin on his face. He said he will have to undergo similar surgeries in the future. He said the injuries were so severe he may have neurological problems in the future.
Tanzer said he is not yet able to estimate the medical expense and is unable to calculate the amount of money he will lose as a result of missing out on employment, or whether he will be able to work again.
Bernard declined to provide more information about Tanzer, beyond what was written in the court document.
A few days before the accident occurred, it was announced that the building had a potential buyer, Swift River Group, which had signed a purchase and sales agreement with the owner. John Anctil, a Swift River Group partner, runs a lighting and grip-metal company in Lowell. Turners Falls has been hoping the 136-old brick complex could become home to a television and film production company.
Anctil, who was attending a landscape design discussion in Turners Falls on Thursday, said lawyers were supposed to have completed the sale earlier this week. He said he had not been aware of the accident or the lawsuit.