Plaintiff seeks court ordered mediation in collision suit against PA

A plaintiff who sued the city of Port Arthur following an automobile collision is seeking court ordered mediation.

Seeking damages for injuries she sustained in an automobile collision with a city employee, Lizbeth Thomas filed suit against the city of Port Arthur on Jan. 18 in Jefferson County District Court. 

Beatriz Medina Cardenas was later added as a defendant.

Court records show that on Dec. 6 Thomas filed a motion for court-ordered mediation, stating that there is a likelihood that the case can be resolved through mediation without having to take a dozen or more depositions.

Court records further show that on Oct. 25 Cardenas filed a first amended answer, asserting a general denial.

The answer also asserts the incident was caused by Thomas’ failure to keep a proper lookut, maintain a safe speed and distance behind Cardenas and failure to apply her brakes.

According to the lawsuit, on Oct. 21, 2011, Thomas was injured in a collision caused by a city employee who was in the course and scope of his employment at the time of the incident.

The suit accuses the employee of negligently failing to keep a proper lookout, driving at an excessive rate of speed, failure to yield the right-of-way and apply the brakes in a timely manner.

Thomas is suing for her alleged past and future medical expenses, mental anguish, pain, impairment, disfigurement and lost wages.

Beaumont attorney John Werner of the Reaud, Morgan & Quinn law firm, represents her.

Cardenas is represented by Houston attorney R.J. Blue of Soule, Baldwin & Fanaff.

Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court, is assigned to the case.

Case No. D193-835