BEAUMONT – Two men performing rescue operations following Hurricane Harvey became in need of rescuing when their boat was forced into an energized power line.
Seeking more than $1 million in damages, David Woollen and Wayne Hill filed suit against Entergy Texas on Sept. 11 in Jefferson County District Court.
According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 2, 2017, the plaintiffs, along with several others, were riding in a boat performing rescue operations in a flooded area of Hardin County when the current caught the boat and forced it into a power line.
“The power line was still energized when it was struck by the Plaintiffs’ boat causing Plaintiffs to be electrocuted and burned,” the suit states. “Plaintiff Woollen was rendered lifeless as a result of the electrocution and had to be resuscitated.”
The suit states Entergy owned and operated the power lines and the company was aware of the flooding in the area and “should have taken precautions to protect the rescuers attempting to save the citizens that were flooded in their homes.”
The plaintiffs are suing for their past and future pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, lost earnings and medical expenses.
They are represented by Provost Umphrey attorney Edward Fisher and also Jeffrey Roebuck of Roebuck & Thomas.
Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, has been assigned to the case.
Case No. E-202405