Firm attorneys Benny Agosto, Jr. and Jonathan Sneed have reached a confidential settlement against Interstate Meat Distributors, Inc., regarding a fatal incident that occurred on April 30, 2013. The settlement brings a favorable end to the family’s lawsuit seeking compensation for the negligence of the company that resulted in the death of their loved one.
On the night of the incident, Hugo Avalos was sanitizing a large meat grinder at a factory located in Clackamas, Oregon, when he fell victim to a tragic industrial accident. Mr. Avalos was washing the grinder when a hose provided by the factory unexpectedly got caught in the moving blades and pulled the worker into the grinder. Upon learning of the incident, Mr. Avalos’ fellow employees rushed to engage the machine’s emergency shutoff, but it was too late. Mr. Avalos was pronounced dead at the scene and is survived by his loving wife and three young children.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of the surviving family alleged that the factory was negligent in employing cleaning methods that it knew and should have known were particularly dangerous to sanitization crews, including Mr. Avalos. Specifically, investigations revealed and the lawsuit alleges that the facility made conscious decisions to keep the meat grinding machines operational and unguarded during sanitization. Moreover, the facility made these decisions despite being warned by OSHA of the dangers in leaving machinery unguarded just a few months before Mr. Avalos’ death. Finally the guardrails that separated cleaning crews from the jaws of the facility’s meat grinders were woefully inadequate and should have been higher to prevent falls, such as the one that occurred with Mr. Avalos.
After a lengthy legal battle, the attorneys for the family of Mr. Avalos were able to reach a confidential settlement with facility owner Interstate Meat Distributors, Inc. Although the settlement amount is confidential, the settlement reached provides a just resolution for Mr. Avalos’ surviving widow and three children.
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in an industrial accident, it is important to find a skilled law firm to handle your claim. The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys can assist you with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.