Man sues over alleged injury from door closing on heel

GRETNA – A business is being sued by a man who alleges he was injured when its front door violently slammed on his heel.

Chad Fritz filed suit against Pearl Professional Building Inc. in the 24th Judicial District Court on July 2.

Fritz claims that he was entering the Pearl Professional Building located at 1581 Carol Sue in Gretna through a large metal framed glass door and when it was shutting behind him it closed with great force on his heel. The plaintiff contends that his heel was severely damaged in the incident. Fritz alleges that in the incident the door malfunctioned and the air-powered self-closing device caused it to forcefully close on him.

The plaintiff claims that due to the incident he lost significant time at his job as a firefighter at the Belle Chasse Naval Air Station.

The defendant is accused of failing to properly install a door closing mechanism, failing to properly maintain and set door closing mechanisms, failure to warn and failing to maintain the building and premises in an appropriate manner.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for pain and suffering, lost wages, lost income, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation.

Fritz is represented by Mark W. Smith of Mark W. Smith & Associates PLC.

The case has been assigned to Division C Judge June Berry Darensburg.

Case no. 739-979.