HOUSTON — A construction worker who fell on unsecured scaffolding and suffered serious injuries is claiming his employer's negligence.
Rafael Rivera filed a complaint Nov. 19 in Harris County District Court against Frankel Homes LTD doing business as Frankel Building Group and Santa Lucia Construction Company Inc., alleging premises liability and negligence.
Rivera, according to his suit, was working for the defendants on April 21, 2020. He claims that as he was installing green board and plywood on a third story construction project on Aberdeen Way in Houston, the scaffold moved and caused him to fall and suffer "life changing" injuries. Rivera alleges the defendants failed to properly supervise him and that the scaffold was not properly built or secured.
He also alleges the defendant's negligence for failing to require him to wear fall protection equipment, for failing to provide workers' compensation benefits and also claims the defendants violated OSHA standards. Rivera claims as a result of his fall, he suffered impairment, disfigurement, lost wages and incurred medical treatment expenses.
Rivera seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Gregory Gowan of Gowan Elizondo LLP in Corpus Christi.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-76058