A Texas City construction worker is suing two local construction businesses after a forklift accident caused him serious injury.
Marthel Venters III filed a suit June 2 in the Galveston County District Court against Winn Traylor Lander, doing business as Rutland Construction Services, and Thomas Davis Offenburger, doing business as Offenburger Builders Inc.
According to the suit, on May 15 Venters was working on a ladder attaching a steel beam at an Offenburger Builders’ property site. The plaintiff alleges that a forklift operator suddenly and without prior notice lunged the forklift forward, striking the beam on which Venters was working and knocking him off balance where he hit the ladder, causing him serious and permanent injuries to his face, mouth, neck, chest and back.
The plaintiff is alleging gross negligence on the part of Rutland Construction Services and Offenburger Builders and claims both businesses violated Texas and/or federal regulations, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Venters alleges that at the time of the incident, the forklift operator was unlicensed and uncertified.
The plaintiff is seeking damages of more than $1 million dollars from each defendant and is represented by attorney Newton B. Schwartz Sr. in Houston.
Galveston County District Court case number 15-CV-0561.