A harrowing incident at a Houston apartment complex has led to a lawsuit alleging negligence and premises liability. Shaudette Wiggins filed the complaint against DRA Advisors LLC, doing business as The Ambrose Thornbury Apartments, in the Harris County District Court on June 5, 2024.
According to the complaint, Wiggins had repeatedly reported a malfunctioning garage door to the apartment management for several weeks prior to the incident. On May 10, 2023, she spoke with Edward Laurel, a manager at the complex, who inspected the garage but was unable to fix it. Laurel allegedly instructed Wiggins to manually pull the garage door up and down as a temporary solution. Despite assurances that a work order would be placed, no repairs were made for nearly thirty days. On June 23, 2023, while following Laurel's instructions to manually operate the door, Wiggins' fingers became lodged in the defective mechanism. She sustained severe injuries and was taken to the hospital for immediate medical attention.
The lawsuit accuses DRA Advisors LLC and its employees of multiple acts of negligence including failure to maintain safe premises, failure to inspect and correct dangerous conditions, and failure to inform tenants of such risks. "The Defendant knew or should have known of an unreasonably dangerous condition existing with the garage door," states the complaint. The plaintiff asserts that these failures directly caused her injuries and subsequent damages.
Wiggins is seeking compensation for physical pain and mental anguish from both past and future suffering. She also demands coverage for medical expenses incurred due to her injuries as well as anticipated future medical costs. Additionally, she claims physical impairment and disfigurement resulting from the incident.
Represented by Audia Jones of The Law Office of Audia Jones P.C., along with co-counsel from The Hadi Law Firm including Husein Hadi and Jamil Thomas among others, Wiggins is requesting monetary relief between $250,000 and $1 million. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-35505 in Harris County District Court under Judge Marilyn Burgess.