The members of a Texas family are suing an electric company and a mall, alleging wrongful death in their father's passing.
Raina Guevara, individually and as representative of the estate of deceased Federico Guevara III, and Roxanne Rodriguez, as next friend of minors Ysela N. Guevara and Federico Guevara IV, filed a lawsuit Nov. 10 in Jefferson County District Court against CBL & Associates Properties, doing business as Parkdale Mall, and Anytime Electric in Houston, alleging negligence, gross negligence and wrongful death.
According to the complaint, on June 16, Federico Guevara III was working as an electrical contractor for Anytime Electric at the Parkdale Mall Shopping Center in Beaumont, when an electrical spark caused him to fall 12 to 15 feet from a ladder.
He sustained a severe head injury with skull fracture, the suit says, and was transferred to St. Elizabeth Hospital, where he underwent surgery in an attempt to save his life. The lawsuit states Guevara experienced extreme physical pain and suffering for 11 days, ultimately leading to his death June 27.
The suit states the defendants were negligent in failing to provide proper equipment, failing to properly plan the work being done, failing to provide a safe place to work, requiring the decedent to work in an unsafe manner, failing to provide scaffold and other negligent acts or omissions.
Raina Guevara, Ysela Guevara, and Federico Guevara IV are the surviving children of Federico Guevara III. Rodriguez is the mother of Ysela Guevara and Federico Guevara IV.
The plaintiffs seek damages of more than $1 million, including interests and court costs. They are represented by attorneys Clay Dugas and Jane S. Leger of Dugas Leger Law Firm in Beaumont.
Jefferson County District Court case number A-197788.