A Harris County resident has filed a lawsuit against a major health system, a facilities management company, and an elevator corporation following a terrifying elevator malfunction that left her with serious injuries. Lashonda Latrea Oliver initiated the legal action on October 25, 2024, in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, targeting Memorial Hermann Health System, Crothall Facilities Management, Inc., and TK Elevator Corporation.
The incident at the heart of this case occurred on November 2, 2023. Oliver was on her way to work as a dispatcher at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center when she experienced a harrowing elevator ride. As she descended from Level P6 in the building owned by Memorial Hermann Health System and managed by Crothall Facilities Management, the elevator suddenly began to malfunction upon reaching Level P3. It started rising and falling erratically before coming to an abrupt stop at Level P2. This unexpected ordeal resulted in severe bodily injuries for Oliver.
Oliver's petition accuses the defendants of negligence on multiple fronts. She alleges that they failed to inspect and maintain the elevator properly and neglected to test its components for safety and functionality. The lawsuit also claims that they did not warn users about the potential dangers posed by the elevator's disrepair. Furthermore, Oliver invokes the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, arguing that such an accident would not occur without negligence from those in control of the elevator.
In addition to negligence claims, Oliver seeks exemplary damages due to what she describes as aggravated conduct by the defendants. She contends that their actions involved extreme risk awareness yet proceeded with conscious indifference toward others' safety. Her lawsuit requests compensation for past and future physical pain, mental anguish, medical expenses, physical impairment, disfigurement, and punitive damages exceeding $1 million.
Representing Oliver are attorneys Nhan Nguyen and Drew Shirley from The Law Office of Nhan Nguyen in Houston. The case is assigned Case ID 2024-74922 under Judge Taiasha Bradford in Court 157.