Galveston case over volunteer's wreck in Africa transferred to federal court

GALVESTON - The Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas will hear a Galveston County woman's lawsuit arising from an auto accident in Africa.

A notice of removal was entered into Jaime Bruce's suit against International Foundation for Education and Self-Help on behalf of the defendant June 6 before the Galveston County 56th District Court.

Bruce alleges IFESH bore responsibility for the wreck in the Republic of Djibouti on Feb. 6, 2010.

The dismissal notice states that the case qualifies for federal jurisdiction because "there is complete diversity of citizenship between the parties, and the value of the matter in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs."

IFESH insists it has satisfied all statutory requirements associated with the removal.

As previously reported, Bruce, a program volunteer for IFESH, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Moustapha Mohammed Houssein.

They were traveling through an area known as Ballambalby, approximately 0.5 kilometers before the Dikhil Region in the Horn of Africa, when the accident occurred.

Bruce claims she suffered a severe blow to the head during the event and insists IFESH was negligent with regard to its administration, coordination and implementation of the volunteer program in question, stating the defendant showed indifference toward her rights, safety and welfare.

Case No. 11-cv-0748