HOUSTON — A man alleges he fell into a unmarked hole filled with exposed rebar while riding his scooter in Whitehouse and suffered internal bleeding.
Brandon Zachary Howard filed a complaint Aug. 16 in Harris County District Court against ELS Construction Inc., Aaron Salazar and Hicken Hospitality Holdings LLC alleging negligence.
According to his complaint, Howard was riding his scooter along a sidewalk on East Main Street in Whitehouse on July 14, 2022. He claims that he fell into an unmarked, uncovered and unprotected hole in the ground where the defendants were working on the construction for a new restaurant. Howard further claims the sidewalk had been torn out and not replaced and in its place, was a hole in the ground with an exposed rebar on the bottom.
He alleges as a result of the accident, he suffered damage to his spleen, liver and other organs which caused internal bleeding and required surgery. Howard claims the defendants were negligent for creating the dangerous condition of a hole filled with rebar, for failing to warn of the construction zone or placing barricades across the entrance to the job site.
He also claims the defendants failed to adhere to proper safety protocols and disregarded his safety. Howard alleges he also suffered mental anguish, lost wages, disfigurement and incurred medical treatment expenses due to his injuries.
Howard seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by C.J. Baker, Adam Grable and Jacqi Stump of Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2022-50402