HOUSTON – A Louisiana couple is suing National Railroad Passenger Corp., doing business as Amtrak, after the husband reportedly suffered injuries during a stopover in Houston almost two years ago.
Recent Houston federal court records show that Joyce and Douglas Riggs filed a lawsuit against the passenger railroad service on July 12.
The original petition explains that Douglas Riggs was en route from New Orleans to San Antonio at the time of the subject incident on July 18, 2016. His train pulled into the Houston station for a rest stop.
Court documents say that an employee of the defendant placed a stool below the doors that the passengers were required to use in stepping down from the car.
Because the stool was “unsecured and unattended,” the suit says, Douglas Riggs felt his knee give out and was thrown to the ground.
An Amtrak worker named Sharon purportedly tended to Douglas Riggs and apologized “profusely” for failing to assist the disembarking passengers, including him.
According to the plaintiffs, Douglas Riggs continues to seek treatment for his injuries to this day.
Consequently, the couple seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
They are represented by Leo J. Palazzo, Jason J. Markey, and Mario A. Arteaga, Jr. of the Palazzo Law Firm in Gretna, La.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:18-CV-2402