Jurors side with defendant in chemical dousing lawsuit

GALVESTON - A company sued after a man was doused with chemicals emerged the victor in the litigation, recent court records show.

Houston resident Sergio Padilla's lawsuit against APS Anzualda Professional Services was argued before a jury on May 20.

Padilla alleged that APS owned a piece of equipment which broke and spewed chemicals onto his clothing.

The plaintiff was using the equipment to clean various chemical tanks for his employer, Delasco, at a local plant.

He informed the defendant’s employees about the purported malfunction.

His two-year-old suit stated that he did not know the liquid which leaked all over him was a chemical that eventually burned his thighs and genital area, arguing he did nothing to cause the incident.

APS formally denied Padilla's complaint.

Padilla presented testimony and evidence to which the defendant orally moved for a direct verdict.

Jurors returned a verdict favoring APS the same day.

Galveston County 10th District Court Judge Kerry L. Neves signed the final judgment order on May 23.

Attorney Kerry M. Guidry of The Guidry Law Firm in Houston represented Padilla while attorney Robert Booth of Mills Shirley LLP in Galveston served as APS's lead counsel.

Case No. 11-CV-71