Defendant granted summary in judgment in suit alleging woman had door shut on her

A defendant was recently granted summary judgment in a case alleging a woman was injured when a door was shut too hard.

Annie Sinegal filed a lawsuit May 24, 2011, in Jefferson County District Court against Fannie Thomas.

Court records show that on Feb. 9 a motion requesting that plaintiff’s attorney Tom Oxford of Waldman Smallwood in Beaumont be withdrawn from the case was granted.

Three months later, Thomas field a motion for summary judgment, arguing that there was no evidence to support the plaintiff’s allegations.

Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court, granted the motion on July 25, court records show.

According to the suit, Sinegal worked as a caretaker for Thomas and was performing her job duties at her home on Jan. 13, 2010, when the incident occurred.

“Defendant, Fannie Thomas, was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Thomas and as she was exiting the home she accidentally shut the door in an unsafe and forceful manner on Mrs. Thomas,” the suit states. “Plaintiff, Annie Sinegal, caught the door to prevent it from striking Mrs. Thomas resulting in the injuries and damages complained of herein.”

Sinegal was seeking an unspecified judgment, plus interest at the legal rate, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Thomas was represented by Karen Spivey, attorney for the Beaumont law firm Pate & Spivey.

Case No. D190-093