GRETNA – The family of a man who died after a personal lift failed is suing the corporate agribusiness facility where the incident occurred.
Melissa C. Feucht, individually and on behalf of her minor child, filed suit against Cargill Incorporated in the 24th Judicial District Court on Oct. 15.
Feucht claims her husband Jeffrey Feucht was hired to work at the Cargill grain elevator located at 933 River Road in Westwego. During the scope of his employment Jeffrey worked on Cargill’s grain elevator installing and repairing a man-lift. Feucht alleges her husband had never worked at a grain elevator before and was not given proper training. On Oct. 16 Jeffery and another employee were descending the man-lift they were working on when it failed and they plunged to the bottom of the elevator shaft. In the incident Jeffery’s arm was severed and he died from massive blood loss. Feucht asserts that Jeffery and his co-worker did not have radios and were not discovered at the bottom of the elevator shaft until a cleaning crew came upon them.
The defendant is accused of failing to take care in installing proper safety equipment, failing to take reasonable action in keeping its building from ruin, failing to exercise reasonable care to protect the safety of people on its premises, failing to exercise reasonable care by not properly equipping workers with emergency communication devices, failing to train the deceased to work in dangerous areas and failing to provide proper supervision.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of consortium, grief, mental pain and anguish, physical pain and suffering, pecuniary loss, loss of companionship, survival action, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, conscious pain and suffering, los of enjoyment of life, attorney’s fees and judicial interest.
Feucht is represented by Stephen M. Huber of Huber, Slack, Houghtaling, Pandit and Thomas LLP.
The case has been assigned to Division Judge P Lee V. Faulkner Jr.
Case no. 731-994.