Former employee sues Mason County Exxon for injuries

WINFIELD -- A Buffalo woman is suing Mason County Exxon Corporation after she was injured at work.

On March 26, 2008, Mariwana Higginbotham was employed as a cook by Mason County Exxon for its restaurant in the Eleanor Exxon station, according to a complaint filed March 9 in Putnam Circuit Court.

Higginbotham claims she was instructed to plug an electrical crock pot into an outlet and upon doing so an electrical stream shot into the electrical cord and shocked her. She claims when she attempted to pull her arm away, she sustained a rotator cuff tear in her right shoulder.

The defendant subjected Higginbotham to an unsafe work environment, failed to take action to stop the unsafe work practices or provide adequate protection for its employees while using cooking or electrical devices, according to the suit.

As a result of the exposure to the unsafe working condition, Higginbotham claims she sustained severe and permanent injuries to her right hand, wrist and shoulder.

Higginbotham is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by Robert B. Warner and Tammy Bowles Raines of Warner Law Offices.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding.

Putnam Circuit Court case number: 10-C-96