Pasadena furniture store sued by forklift operator

A forklift operator is suing his employer after, he says, a forklift ran over him, severely injuring his left foot, ankle and leg.

Gerardo Padilla filed a lawsuit on Jan. 27 in the Harris County District Court against Pasadena-area Hilton Furniture and Leather Gallery, alleging negligence.

Padilla says that while working in the defendant’s warehouse, he seriously injured his left foot, ankle and leg when his employer told him to get off the forklift he was operating to repair a hole in plastic sheeting. According to the brief, although Padilla engaged the parking brake while climbing down, the forklift began to roll, running over him.

Padilla is seeking damages and court costs. He is being represented in the case by Houston attorney Norman Straub.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-05748.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.