A former employee has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer, alleging severe negligence that led to a workplace injury. Hector Calderon filed the complaint in Harris County District Court on July 31, 2024, against Texas Truck Doctor, LLC and its manager James Carson Lahti, Jr.
According to the court documents, Hector Calderon was employed by Texas Truck Doctor, LLC, a diesel repair facility managed and partly owned by James Carson Lahti, Jr. On December 22, 2023, Calderon suffered severe lower body burns due to the misuse of "Roadforce" branded brake cleaner by Lahti. The plaintiff asserts that Texas Truck Doctor failed to provide a safe working environment and did not subscribe to the Texas Worker's Compensation scheme at the time of the incident. This lack of subscription denies them certain legal defenses such as contributory negligence and assumption of risk.
The lawsuit details several allegations against both defendants. Calderon claims that Lahti negligently handled flammable products leading to his injuries. Specific accusations against Texas Truck Doctor include failure to adequately train employees, warn of known dangers, provide proper work equipment and clothing, maintain a safe working environment, supervise employees properly, furnish a place free from recognized hazards, and eliminate known hazards. These failures collectively amount to gross negligence according to Calderon's petition.
Calderon is seeking over $1 million in damages for medical expenses (both past and future), physical pain and mental anguish (both past and future), physical impairment and disfigurement (both past and future), loss of earning capacity or lost income in the past. Additionally, he seeks exemplary or punitive damages due to what he describes as an extreme degree of risk created by the defendants' actions with conscious indifference towards safety.
Representing Calderon is attorney William R. Moye from Moye Law Firm PLLC based in Houston. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-48213 in Harris County's 55th Judicial District Court under Judge Taiasha Bradford.