GALVESTON - The University of Texas System is pursuing legal action against Sodexho Services of Texas LP and Sodexho Operations LLC after a hospital employee injured herself two years ago.
UTS, authorized to act with regards to its workers' compensation claims, filed suit on behalf of Sheila Porter on Jan. 19 in Galveston County District Court. The suit states Porter slipped and fell on floors at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Rebecca Sealy Hospital which the defendants cleaned on Jan. 21, 2010.
According to the original petition, Porter stepped out of a stairwell when she lost her balance on the wet floor and sustained injuries to her right wrist, right thumb and tail bone.
The plaintiff provided medical treatment and other benefits to Porter for those injuries under her workers' compensation claim, the suit says.
Monetary benefits equaled in the sum of $33,403 at the time recent court documents were submitted.
UTS insists that it is obligated to continue paying statutory workers' compensation benefits to Porter in the future.
It blames the respondents for negligence, premises liability and subrogation, asserting they knew about the subject floors' reported dangerous condition yet failed to give Porter sufficient warning.
A jury trial is requested.
The Office of the Texas Attorney General is representing UTS.
Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner is presiding over the case.
Case No. 12-cv-0070