Brian Roland latest: 2 depositions set for October in injured chef's suit

Two witnesses in Brian Roland's lawsuit against a Naples car dealership and others are scheduled for depositions in October.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, is the time set for them: Nicholas Grolab at 10 a.m. and Jeff Howland at 1 p.m., said a notice of filing a deposition in court records.

The videotaped depositions are "being taken for the purpose of discovery, for use at trial, or for such other purposes, as are permitted under the applicable Statutes or Rules of the Court."

Roland suffered severe injuries 1½ years ago at Ferrari of Naples, 112921 Tamiami Trail N. Roland this past February sued the North Naples dealership and others, seeking more than $100,000 in damages.

"Brian continues to have ongoing medical issues that will likely be lifelong, but is recovering from some of his other injuries," said Dena Sisk Foman, Roland's West Palm Beach attorney, in an email.

No other information was available about the witnesses, Grolab or Howland, in court records. And although there is a Dr. Jeff Howland with NCH Physician Group, who specializes in internal medicine, the witness being deposed is not him, Foman said.

Earlier in the week, Circuit Judge Joseph Foster held a hearing to determine whether to deem litigation complex that, if granted, would slow down the litigation process. The judge has yet to issue a ruling from that hearing and to set a trial date.

Roland and fellow employees of his company, Crave Culinaire, were catering a grand opening event at the Ferrari dealership the night of Dec. 4, 2021, when he became pinned under the car lift, police reports said.

Lawsuit names businesses, Collier County

Roland sued New Country Motor Cars of Naples LLC, doing business as Ferrari of Naples; Interluxe Group Inc.; Envirostruct; Elite Consulting of SWFL, doing business as Elite Permits of Naples; the Collier County Board of Commissioners; Miner Enterprises, doing business as Autoquip Corp.; and Snap-On Inc.

Roland's wife Nicole and their daughter Remington are also named as plaintiffs.

At the time he was injured, Roland was among the most popular and visible chefs in Southwest Florida. He owns Crave Culinaire, By Chef Brian Roland, a Bonita Springs-based catering company known for high-end and boutique dining. Crave Culinaire — which continues to operate — began in 2013 after Roland left his role as executive chef at M Waterfront Grille. He was educated at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Just a few days after Roland was injured, more than 100 gathered at a candlelight vigil for the Rolands outside Lee Memorial Hospital.

What the lawsuit says happened that night

During the catering event, Brian Roland received permission from an Interluxe employee that he and his staff could use a freight elevator, or car lift, to transport supplies from the second floor to the ground floor, the suit said. Ferrari hired Interluxe to act on its behalf to plan the event.

Roland entered the lift from the second floor to take down one of the last loads of the event, the suit said.

While on the lift, he fell through a 22-inch gap that existed between the end of the car lift platform and the wall, "where he landed on the ground floor of the car lift shaft."

"As Brian Roland laid unconscious on the ground floor the car lift descended and crushed him, pinning him between the car lift and the ground," the suit read.

None of the defendants attorneys have discussed the case publicly.

Roland was "extracted from underneath the car lift and transported for emergent medical treatment as a result of his significant traumatic injuries caused by his fall from the car lift."

His bodily injuries "result in pain and suffering and a significant permanent total disability, which is ongoing," the suit stated.

The legal filing also said Ferrari should not have allowed Roland or his employees to use the car lift because the dealership's own policy and procedures prohibited passengers from riding on it.

Local, state and federal laws and regulations also did not allow people to ride the lift, the suit said. And the lift was not marked with any warnings advising passengers to not ride the lift and about the dangers of doing so.

What suit alleges against Collier County

The Collier County Board of Commissioners was liable because the county "reviewed permit applications, inspected the premises and approved and issued the Certificate of Occupancy for construction of the Ferrari dealership, including the car lift," the lawsuit stated.

Further, the Rolands' attorney claims in the suit, the county knew or should have known the lift was not built for passengers; the county should have required warning labels affixed on the lift before issuing the Certificate of Occupancy; and the county should have required the 22-inch gap be corrected before issuing the certificate.

The Collier County Board of Commissioners was liable because the county "reviewed permit applications, inspected the premises and approved and issued the Certificate of Occupancy for construction of the Ferrari dealership, including the car lift," the lawsuit stated.

Further, the Rolands' attorney claims in the suit, the county knew or should have known the lift was not built for passengers; the county should have required warning labels affixed on the lift before issuing the Certificate of Occupancy; and the county should have required the 22-inch gap be corrected before issuing the certificate.

Why others named in suit

Interluxe employees directed Roland to use the car lift to transport equipment and supplies between the ground floor and the second floor. Interluxe workers also directed Roland to not use passenger elevators, the suit said.

Envirostruct was the general contractor of the Ferrari of Naples premises and oversaw the construction and installation of the car lift , the suit alleges.

Elite Permits of Naples was responsible for inspecting the dealership premises and assisted Envirostruct with the permitting process in the construction of the lift, the suit read.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What's the latest in Brian Roland suit against Ferrari dealer, others