HOUSTON – A Valentine’s Day trial has been slated for a man claiming that asking an H-E-B employee to put on a face mask led to a “violent physical assault.”
Seeking up to $1 million in damages, Joseph Jones Jr. filed suit against HEB Grocery and the unidentified employee on Jan. 22 in Harris County District Court.
According to the lawsuit, in July 2020 Jones was shopping at a Houston H-E-B when he asked a store employee (John Doe) to put on a face mask.
“Doe refused despite the statewide face covering requirement, and while in the course and scope of his employment, attacked and carried out a sustained violent physical assault on Jones,” the suit states.
Jones is accusing H-E-B of negligently failing to provide Doe with the necessary training regarding workplace behavior.
Court records show H-E-B answered the suit back in February and asserted a general denial.
A docket control order entered in the case shows the litigation has been slated for trial on Feb. 14, 2022.
Doe is suing for his alleged past and future medical expenses, pain, mental anguish, impairment, disfigurement and lost wages.
The Daspit Law Firm represents him.
H-E-B is represented by Houston attorney Kip Patterson of Baker & Patterson.
Case No. 2021-04093