Ragean Elia has filed a lawsuit against a well-known restaurant chain, alleging negligence that resulted in severe injuries. The complaint was lodged by Elia on October 11, 2024, in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, against Morton’s of Chicago/Houston, Inc.
According to the details outlined in the court documents, Ragean Elia claims that on November 11, 2032, she visited Morton’s of Chicago/Houston as a business invitee and suffered severe burns to her hands due to being served an excessively hot dish. The plaintiff accuses the defendant of failing to provide a safe environment for its patrons and neglecting to warn them about potential hazards. The lawsuit further asserts that Morton’s was negligent through various acts and omissions by its employees and representatives. Specifically, Elia alleges that the restaurant failed to properly train and supervise its staff on risk prevention measures and neglected to implement policies that would prevent exposing customers to unreasonable risks.
Elia's petition argues that Morton’s should have been aware of the hazardous conditions present at their premises and took no action to mitigate or inform patrons about these dangers. She holds the restaurant accountable for creating an unsafe condition which led directly to her injuries. As a result of this incident, Elia has incurred significant medical expenses and anticipates ongoing costs related to her recovery. Furthermore, she claims that the negligence exhibited by Morton’s has caused her extreme physical pain and emotional distress.
In seeking justice from the court, Ragean Elia demands compensation for her injuries and losses. She requests monetary relief under Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 47(c)(3) for damages sustained due to the incident. Additionally, she seeks punitive damages citing gross negligence and malice on part of Morton’s conduct as per Texas law definitions. Elia also asks for prejudgment interest where applicable and has requested a jury trial for this case.
Representing Ragean Elia is attorney Sean C. Villery-Samuel from Provost Umphrey Law Firm L.L.P., located in Beaumont, Texas. The case is filed under Case ID 2024-71039 with Judge Patricia Jones presiding over it in Harris County's 125th Judicial District Court.