Burgess
TEXARKANA - After suffering serious injuries when armor plating was dropped on his head, a heavy equipment mechanic has filed a lawsuit against a government contract company for negligence.
Keith Harris filed suit against Force Protection Inc. on Nov. 16 in the Eastern District of Texas, Texarkana Division.
According to the complaint, Harris was injured while stationed in Kuwait on Feb. 19, 2010, while working as a mechanic on a motor vehicle for the Red River Army Depot. Antonio Gibbs, an employee of Force Protection, was on top of the vehicle and removed a bolt from an armor plate that was on the vehicle, which caused the door to fall on Harris' head, shoulder and hand.
"The actions of Mr. Gibbs, in removing the bolts from the door, without the proper safety equipment to hold the door while the bolt was removed, was negligence," the lawsuit argues.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for lost wages, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, pain, suffering, mental anguish, interest, and court costs.
Harris is represented by Mark C. Burgess of Boyd, Poff & Burgess LLP in Texarkana. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge David Folsom is assigned to the case.
Case No. 5:11-cv-00202