GALVESTON - A former Marine alleges he is attending therapy after his vehicle caught fire in the parking lot of a League City Best Buy a few months ago, recent court papers state.
In a lawsuit filed Oct. 7 in Galveston County Court at Law No. 3, Manuel Lee Cervantez III says Best Buy Co. Inc. is responsible for said fire, which he claims triggered flashbacks of his service in Afghanistan.
Prior to the subject event, Cervantez purchased electronic equipment from the defendant and had it installed in his Ford Focus.
"Immediately after leaving store #1469, the plaintiff's motor vehicle caught on fire and was totally destroyed," the suit says.
"The plaintiff exited the vehicle immediately before it blew up causing him severe mental distress."
A disabled veteran suffering from post traumatic distress syndrome, Cervantez asserts he was caused "to relive incidents that occurred in Afghanistan."
Though he is receiving treatment, the original petition states, the complainant "is still afraid to travel in the vicinity of the scene."
Consequently, he seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Cervantez is represented by attorney Michael L. Dahlenburg of Houston.
The case has been assigned to Galveston County Court-at-Law No. 3 Judge Kerri M. Foley.
Cause No. 70,859
Disabled vet's lawsuit faults Best Buy for car fire, says incident reminded him of Afghanistan
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