A Newton County resident filed a petition to take oral depositions from a Jefferson County firm and its agents in the interest of investigating a potential 2014 personal injury claim against his employer.
Jeff Hobson of Burkeville filed a petition in Jefferson County District Court on June 1, deposing employees or representatives of EMS USA, located at 17691 Highway 124 in Beaumont, regarding an unspecified November 2014 workplace injury.
According to the suit, Hobson intends to discover whether any third parties are connected to his injuries. Hobson alleges severe injuries as a consequence of an industrial accident on Nov. 12, 2014. The suit states that the plaintiff, a skilled laborer, was injured when equipment broke down.
The plaintiff argues that the benefits of allowing a deposition outweigh the procedure’s burden and expense because he does not currently know whether a claim should be pursued, or against whom, until a deposition occurs. Hobson maintains that the process can be accomplished in less than six hours.
Specific issues revolve around the employer’s use of rented “light plant” operational equipment and whether it malfunctioned. A light plant is a generator on wheels that illuminates work sites in the field.
The plaintiff requests a court order authorizing him to obtain testimony of employees with knowledge of the light plant, along with information on the protocols used in the process, any third-party inspections and/or post-accident inspections; and possibly subpoenas for records.
The plaintiff is represented by Jon Burmeister and Tommy Yeates of Moore Landrey in Beaumont.
Jefferson County District Court Case B-197187