$700,000 settlement for client with leg injuries as a result of trench collapse. Mr. Heslin’s client was an apprentice plumber who jumped into a ditch to turn off a water valve, after his friend, who was digging the ditch, ruptured the pipe with a front end loader. The friend’s insurance company argued that Mr. Heslin’s client caused his own injuries by jumping into the ditch and also argued that the client and his friend were co-employees, and thus the friend could not be sued because suits against co-employees are barred by workers compensation laws. Mr. Heslin was able to successfully overcome these arguments during a pretrial conference before a Judge and at the request of his client, settled the case for the final offer of $700,000 in 2011.