HOUSTON – A Houston man is suing Exxon Mobil Corp. for an eye injury he allegedly sustained at the petroleum company’s Beaumont refinery, recent Harris County District Court records show.
In court documents filed on Jan. 4 in the Harris County 113th District Court, Michael Johnson states the incident occurred on July 29, 2016 while he was installing a fiber optic cable. Exxon reportedly brought in Johnson as part of a contract with his employer, Gayesco-Wika USA, LP.
Per Johnson, he was beginning to do mapping and ice checking on a reactor using 10-lb. ice bags when a bungee cord holding the bags snapped free and struck him in the right eye.
“Michael was wearing protective eyeglasses and the protective glasses were knocked off of his face from the force of the impact,” the original petition says.
The suit asserts Exxon was in control of the project and the safety procedures relating to it.
Exxon retained control of the ‘means, methods and details’ of Gayesco’s employees’ work in the construction contract, so that it is liable to Michael for the injuries arising out of that control,” the complaint states.
Consequently, Johnson seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by attorney Carl W. Gordon of The Gordon Law Firm in Houston.
Harris County 113th District Court Case No. 2018-0804