Woman claims airport baggage cart knocked her out of wheelchair

An airport baggage cart loaded with bags and suitcases ran into a woman who was in a wheelchair, causing her to fall out of the chair and onto the ground, a recently filed lawsuit claims.

The wheelchair-bound woman, Gale Webb-Lovelace, and her husband James R. Lovelace filed suit against Security Austin Risk Amg., doing business as International Ram & Associates, on Sept. 9 in federal court in New Orleans.

The alleged incident occurred on Jan. 27 while Webb-Lovelace was checking in at the Louis Armstrong International Airport. She states she was hit suddenly by a sky cab, employed by the defendant, pushing a baggage cart. Webb-Lovelace says she broke her right wrist, bruised her right hip. She says she also has knee, back and neck pain since the incident.

The sky cab is accused of negligence in the careless handling of a baggage cart, failing to see Webb-Lovelace, stacking luggage so high on the cart so as to impair his vision of others, failing to stop and reckless use of a baggage cart, failing to maintain a proper lookout, failing to avoid a foreseeable incident, failing to exercise due caution and for inattentiveness while operating a baggage cart.

Defendant International Ram & Associates is accused of negligence for failing to monitor hazards and potential hazards, failing to maintain a safe environment, failing to properly train its employees and provide adequate safety training and failing to maintain strict requirements for employee qualifications and performance regarding operation of baggage carts.

Webb-Lovelace and her husband are seeking damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, permanent disability, interest and court costs.

The couple is represented by G. Brice Jones, Ross F. LaGarde and Paul Hesse in Slidell.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:10cv02963