HOUSTON — A worker claims lack of equipment caused his severe back injury while lifting pipes at a liquid storage tank farm in Corpus Christi.
Lionel Hanzy filed a complaint Dec. 2 in Harris County District Court against Moda Midstream LLC alleging negligence.
Hanzy, according to his suit, was working for NVI as an X-ray technician on a project for Moda Midstream on June 6, 2020, at its tank farm in Corpus Christi. He alleges that he was told by a supervisor to scan three sections of pipe which weight about 175 pounds and that there was no forklift available.
He further alleges that he had to lift the pipes manually and after lifting the final piece of pipe, he experienced a "severe" pain in his lower back which caused him to black out and require "substantial" medical treatment.
Hanzy claims Moda Mistream's negligence for failing to provide a safe place to work, failing to train its employees and for not having proper equipment. He also claims Moda Midstream failed to have adequate supervision or an alternative lifting device and did not coordinate the simultaneous operations that were being performed at the site.
Hanzy seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, interest and all other just relief. He is represented Marcus Spagnoletti and Eric Rhine of The Spagnoletti Law Firm in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-78572