Schlumberger Technology sued over alleged injury caused by hose

WHEELING - A Mason County man and his wife are suing Schlumberger Technology Corporation in federal court after he allegedly sustained injuries while at Schlumberger's facility during the course of his employment with another company.

On July 25, 2011, Bruce J. Meade, who was an employee of Bulk Transit Corporation, was contracted to deliver a load of cement mix to the Schlumberger facility in Weston, according to a complaint filed July 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia at Wheeling.

Meade claims upon arriving at Schlumberger's Weston facility, he was directed to exit his truck and sign in at the front office, where he would also receive instruction of where to take the cement mix.

After Meade received instructions, he drove his truck and trailer to the unloading area and waited for permission to unload the load of cement mix.

Meade claims at the direction of Schlumberger employees, his co-worker was instructed to connect his end of the unloading hose to his truck's trailer and the Schlumberger employees hooked up the other end of the hose to their silo.

Following the connection at both ends of the hose, Meade's co-worker was instructed by the defendant's employees to turn on his pump and begin pumping out a sample of cement mix into the silo, according to the suit.

Meade claims after being instructed to turn on the pump, his co-worker did so and suddenly, without warning, the hose pressurized and "kicked out," striking Meade in his legs and back and knocking him to the ground.

The defendant failed to provide a safe and suitable work environment and to comply with federal and state laws and industry standards of practice; created a hazardous and dangerous condition it knew or reasonably should have known was likely to cause substantial injury and possibly death, according to the suit.

Meade claims as a direct and proximate result of the defendant's negligence, recklessness and carelessness, he suffered serious and permanent injuries, including injuries to his head and back; incurred medical expenses; incurred lost wages; sustained a loss of earning capacity; suffered humiliation and embarrassment; suffered annoyance, aggravation and mental anguish; and sustained an impairment of the capacity to enjoy life.

Meade's wife, Tiffany A. Meade, has been deprived of the service, society and consortium of her husband, according to the suit.

The Meades are seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Robert V. Berthold Jr. and Robert V. Berthold III of Berthold Law Firm PLLC.

The case has been assigned to District Judge John Preston Bailey.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia at Wheeling case number: 2:13-cv-00051