An Orange County man working on a railroad is suing over claims his employer's negligence caused serious injuries.
John Horton filed a lawsuit Feb. 24 in the Jefferson County District Court against Watco Companies LLC, TPC Group LLC, TPC Group Inc. and Echo Maintenance LLC, citing negligence.
Watco operates short line railroads across the U.S. TPC , based in Houston, provides a specialized line of chemical products to the petrochemical facilities. Echo Maintenance is a Port Arthur company construction and maintenance services to refineries and chemical plants.
Horton claims on Aug. 9, 2012, he was working as a switchman when he fell on the job, resulting in injuries.
The suit states Horton was performing his duties when he stepped off a railroad car into a hole next to the railroad tracks. Horton got tangled up in the pipe and fell, sustaining injuries to his lower back, right leg and torn cartilage in his left knee.
Horton claims in the previous month there were complaints made to his employer regarding the dangerous pipes sticking up out of the ground, but they did not fix the problem, according to the suit.
Horton is seeking damages, interest and court costs.
He is being represented by Beaumont attorney Steven C. Barkley.
Jefferson County District Court Case No. B0195-367
This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.