Galveston mom files lawsuit over son's fishing hook injury

A Houston mother is suing a Galveston County man after her son allegedly was snared by a fishing hook on the man's boat. 

Catherine Gabel, individually and on behalf of her son, Haden, filed a lawsuit Aug. 12 in Galveston County District Court against John Owens. 

According to the lawsuit, Owens' boat, "Son of Sea", was tied to the boat the Gabels were on in Nassau Bay Cove in August 2012. Gabel says the boats were tied together to allow passengers to cross between them. While the Gabels and Owens were on the other boat, Owens allegedly asked Haden to cross to the "Son of Sea" to get some mustard.

Gabel alleges while her son was returning to the boat where she was, an unsecured hook nearly 3 inches in length and with a barb more than an inch long was hanging from a fishing pole and hooked into the boy's right wrist. She says it lodged into his wrist as he stepped from one boat to the other, leaving the 10-year-old straddling the space between the boats. Gabel alleges that caused the hook to penetrate deeper into Haden's wrist.

The hook had to be removed surgically, according to the complaint, leaving Haden with a sizable scar and pain in his wrist. His mother says he has become anxious around fishing poles for fear he will get hooked again.

The Gabels accuse Owens of negligence and seek damages of more than $200,000 for medical expenses, mental anguish and court costs. Attorney Christopher Augustine Gabel, of Bellaire, represents the Gabels. They seek a jury trial.

The case number is Galveston County District Court case 14-CV-0850.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at Galveston County District Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and it represents only one side of the story.