HOUSTON – An excavator is suing Chevron USA alleging he fell in a sinkhole near one of the oil giant’s old wells.
Jake Gaines filed the suit Oct. 16 in Harris County District Court, also naming Charles and Irma Ogle as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 24 Gaines was contracted to clear a portion of a land in Midland owned by the Ogles. While doing so, he encountered something. When he began to investigate, Gaines fell in a concealed sinkhole that was around 20 feet deep.
“The sink hole was surrounding an old well of Chevron that was not barricaded or marked,” the suit states. “Defendants failed to take any remedial action for a known hazard, and Defendants failed to adequately warn Plaintiff of the dangerous condition.”
Gaines is suing for his past and future mental anguish, pain, impairment, medical expenses, lost wages and disfigurement.
He is represented by attorney Muhammad Aziz of Abraham Watkins.
Case No. 2020-66725