Gas pump lawsuit rescheduled, again

GALVESTON - Once slated to go to jury trial in early next month, a lawsuit focusing on injuries allegedly caused by an unattached gasoline hose received extra time.

Plaintiff Georgios Maltsakis and defendants Murphy Oil USA Inc. and motorist Jerry Delossantos will now face off in court on March 17, 2014, instead of Jan. 13.

Galveston County Court-at-Law No. 3 Judge Kerri M. Foley issued an order in favor of the parties' motion for continuance on Dec. 13.

As previously reported, Maltsakis filed suit earlier this year in response to the June 16, 2011, incident in which Delossantos allegedly drove away from a pump without removing the pump hose from his vehicle, resulting in gasoline “being sprayed all over Georgios and [his son's] face and body.”

The original petition shows the plaintiffs “immediately experienced burning sensations on their skin and eyes” and were taken to the nearby University of Texas Medical Branch where they underwent a series of X-rays and other tests.

Maltsakis adds he was forced to miss a week of work.

A delay in obtaining medical records from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston prompted the current continuance request.

The first instance was brought forth in October by scheduling conflicts experienced by the attorneys on both sides.

Cause No. 69,343