HOUSTON – A paramedic claiming he had to lift a 400-pound patient by himself is suing his employer.
Seeking up to $1 million in damages, Reinhold Haussecker Jr. filed suit against Concord EMS on July 14 in Harris County District Court.
According to the lawsuit, on April 30 Haussecker was directed to transport a patient from a rehabilitation center to Memorial Herman Sugar Land Hospital due to complications with Coronavirus.
Dispatch did not inform him that the patient weighed more than 350 pounds. Pre Concord’s policies and procedures, when a patient exceeds 350 pounds, dispatch is supposed to inform the paramedics and a second crew is supposed to assist, the suit states.
When Haussecker arrived, he was informed the patient weighed more than 400 pounds. Instead of sending a second crew, Haussecker was told to complete the job without assistance.
Haussecker’s partner that evening was working with an injured shoulder and was unable to assist him with lifting the stretcher, the suit states.
Also, the air bag suspension system on the Concord emergency vehicle was inoperable, forcing Haussecker to manually lift the patient.
“While lifting the patient, Haussecker suffered a hernia,” the suit states.
Haussecker is accusing Concord of gross negligence and seeks an award of exemplary damages.
He is also suing for his past and future medical expenses, pain, mental anguish, impairment, loss of earning capacity and disfigurement.
Haussecker is represented by Raymond Hatcher and Connor Barbe, attorneys for the Sloan, Hatcher, Perry, Runge, Robertson, Smith & Jones.
Case No. 2020-41576