Lawsuit: Local man, son doused with gas from unattached hose

GALVESTON - A local man alleges a wayward hose at a Murphy USA gas station doused him and his minor son, and has filed a lawsuit, recent court documents say. 

Georgios Maltsakis's original petition, filed Feb. 21 in Galveston County Court at Law No. 3, blames Murphy Oil USA Inc. and motorist Jerry Delossantos for the June 16, 2011, incident.

Maltsakis's son is a co-plaintiff in the case.

The suit explains that the complainants were at the gas station in Galveston to purchase gas when Delossantos allegedly drove away from a pump without removing the pump hose from his vehicle.

"The hose violently detached from the gas pump resulting in gasoline being sprayed all over Georgios and [his son's] face and body, leaving them drenched in gasoline," it says.

According to Maltsakis, he and the child "immediately experienced burning sensations on their skin and eyes," adding he also suffered chest pain.

They were taken to the nearby University of Texas Medical Branch where they underwent a series of X-rays and other tests.

Maltsakis, who works as a commercial contractor, claims the event caused him to miss work.

The company is blamed for not installing a shut-off device on the pump that would  prevent gas from spraying onto its customers.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Michael B. Hughes with McLeod, Alexander, Powel & Apffel PC in Galveston is representing the plaintiffs, and Galveston County Court at Law No. 3 Judge Christopher Dupuy is presiding over the case.

Cause No. 69,343