This Just In: Recent civil filings in Jefferson County District Courts

Oct. 17

-Ricardo Garcia vs. Pneumatic Industrial Service

PA � Tommy Hastings, J � Milton Shuffield

When a piece of coal was sucked up and lodged in an industrial vacuum, Ricardo Garcia chased after it, sticking his arm in the hose without first turning off the power. Garcia claims he was yelling for help, yet the vacuum operator waited a substantial amount of time before turning off the suction causing Garcia to sustain numerous injuries to his arm. Garcia is suing Pneumatic Industrial Service, owner and operator of the vacuum, for medical expenses, pain and mental anguish, lost earnings, disfigurement and physical impairment.

Case No. D180-536

Oct. 18

- Dragon Products, Ltd. vs. D.Q.G. Petroleum Services, Inc.

PA - John Seth, J � Donald Floyd

Dragon Products, Ltd. has filed suit against D.Q.G. Petroleum Services, Inc., seeking to recover more than $38,000 from a delinquent D.Q.G. Petroleum account.

Case No. E180-545

- Marion Frazier vs. AT&T Communication

PA � Dan Ducote, J � Gary Sanderson

Blinded in his dominant eye, Marion Frazier lost half of his vision when a large J-screw "ripped painfully through his pupil and iris" while working on a telephone poll. Frazier is suing AT&T Communications and Four Star Communications, claiming the companies negligently failed to provide him safety goggles.

Case No. B180-546

Oct. 19

- Kenneth Bagley vs. E.I. Du Pont De Nemours

PA - Keith Hyde, J - Bob Wortham

A Southeast Texas petrochemical worker is claiming his exposure to benzene has caused him to develop leukemia. Seeking punitive damages as compensation for his disease, Kenneth Bagley is suing E.I. Du Pont De Nemours, Exxon Mobil, Chevron U.S.A. and Unocal. According to Bagley's petition, the defendants negligently exposed him to benzene and other toxic substances associated with the petroleum industry during his career as a contractor.

Case No. A180-552

Oct. 22

-Fire Insurance Exchange et al vs. Paul Anthony Bluel et al

PA � Russell Little, J � Donald Floyd

William and Patricia Keprta were having the roof on their Bridge Street home repaired by Tony Bluel and Ace Roofing on Dec. 4, 2005. The house caught on fire while the roof work was being done and sustained fire, smoke, water, moisture, mold and mildew damage. Fire insurance Exchange insured the Keprta's home for $85,213.60. The homeowners and insurance company allege that Ace Roofing was negligent in its use of blow torches and that owner Bluel did not supervise employees. The plaintiffs are seeking to recover the insurance amount and other damages entitled.

Case No. E180-561

- Steve Sanders vs. Marine Fueling Service Inc.

PA � Daniel Packard, J � Bob Wortham

A newly hired deckhand clumsily tangled his feet in some cable he was moving and fell. Armed with the Jones Act, Steve Sanders is blaming and suing his employer, Marine Fueling Service Inc., for his injuries, claiming the company failed to properly train and supervise him while forcing him to perform an "unsafe activity."

Case No. A180-563

- Carlos Guzman vs. CBH Services Inc et al

PA � Daniel Packard. J � Gary Sanderson

While at work on a ship, Carlos Guzman injured his back moving a ladder. He is now suing his employer and the ship's owner under the Jones Act. Carlos Guzman filed his personal injury lawsuit against CBH Services Inc. and Horizon Offshore Contractors Inc. in Jefferson County District Court on Oct. 22. Guzman says the incident caused him to sustain serious and permanent injuries including a herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Under the Jones Act, Guzman alleges that the defendants were negligent for failing to provide him with a safe place to work; failing to provide reasonably safe tools, appliances and equipment; failing to provide adequate supervisory personnel and adequate number of employees; failing to adequately train and failing to provide proper lifting equipment.

The plaintiff is seeking monetary relief of $50,000 or more.

Case No. B180-564

- Thomas Boudreaux vs. Cameron Plumbing

PA � Michael Josephson, J � Bob Wortham

Dissatisfied with a co-worker's job performance, Gary Cameron, an employee of Cameron Plumbing, walloped Thomas Boudreaux, landing a damaging blow to Boudreaux's jaw. The injured and disgruntled plumber filed a personal injury lawsuit against Cameron Plumbing, claiming the company negligently hired an incompetent plumber prone to violence.

Case No. A180-569

- Jesus Chapa vs. Horizon Offshore Inc. et al

PA - Richard Plezia, J � Milton Shuffield

Jesus Chapa, a seaman, was injured while exiting the barge Pacific Horizon. Under the Jones Act, he is suing Horizon Offshore Inc. for failing to provide proper egress (exit) procedures. Chapa is seeking declaratory judgment against Horizon Offshore.

Case No. D180-570

- Earnestine Alexander vs. Chevron U.S.A.

PA � Keith Hyde, J - Milton Shuffield

A Port Arthur widow is suing Chevron U.S.A. for "maliciously" exposing her late husband to asbestos, who "developed an asbestos-related disease for which he died a painful and terrible death." Earnestine Alexander is suing for punitive and exemplary damages.

Case No. D180-571

- Henrietta Hebert vs. Magnolia Manor et al

PA � Barry Bennett, J � Gary Sanderson

Claiming she was given too much of the blood-thinner Coumadin, Henrietta Hebert filed a medical malpractice suit against Magnolia Manor in Groves and Cresthaven Health Care Center Ltd. Hebert had been on the blood thinner Coumadin for several years, but on Nov. 21, 2005, was taken to Christus Hospital St. Mary in Port Arthur suffering from acute abdominal pain, nausea, gastrointestinal bleeding and was placed on a ventilator and feeding tube. The suit alleges that nursing home staff failed to monitor the levels of Coumadin through appropriate tests and failed to notice signs of Coumadin toxicity.

Case No. B180-572

Oct. 23

- Raschelle Daughdrill vs. Dr. Sei Chang Oh

PA - Adam Terrell, J � Bob Wortham

An Orange County woman is alleging a Vidor doctor routinely molested her when she came in for medical treatment in her youth. Raschelle Daughdrill filed suit against Dr. Sei Chang

Case No. A180-580