Man says he was hurt at tractor repair shop

A Jefferson County man is suing over claims he was injured on the premises of a tractor repair shop.

Charles "Howard" Huff and Doris Huff filed a lawsuit Sept. 24 in Jefferson County District Court against Beaumont Tractor Company Inc., citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Charles Huff began experiencing problems with his Kubota riding lawnmower while cutting the grass at his residence July 2 and phoned the defendant, who told him to bring the lawnmower to their store and garage. Huff says he drove the lawnmower to the premises on his break-away trailer, and a Beaumont Tractor Company employee inspected, checked and rode the lawnmower.

The complaint states the employee told Huff they couldn't find anything wrong with the lawnmower, then, while Huff stood on the trailer, the employee drove the lawnmower onto the trailer at an unreasonable rate of speed, causing Huff to be catapulted into the air and off the trailer.

According to the lawsuit, Huff landed on his head and right side, and sustained disabling injuries to his head, brain, ribs, hip and spine, requiring hospitalization at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital. The defendant is accused of negligence in failing to adequately train its employee and communicate to Huff a loading plan. Doris Huff, his wife, is suing for loss of consortium.

The Huffs seek actual, exemplary and compensatory damages, including medical expenses, interest and costs of court. They are represented by attorney Gilbert T. Adams III of Gilbert Adams Law Office in Beaumont.

Jefferson County District Court case number: D-196145