HOUSTON - A lawsuit claiming a Lowe’s employee suffered from an underlying infection for years after banging his shin on the fork of a forklift is seeking more than $1 million in damages.
Alleging negligence, Austin Barron filed suit against Lowe’s Companies on April 5 in Harris County District Court.
According to the lawsuit, in November of 2023 Barron was a lumber associate at Lowe’s. He was unloading a pallet on a forklift when he hit his shin on the fork. Within two days, Barron’s leg was swollen and Lowe’s sent him home. He sought treatment at Memorial Hermann and was hospitalized for days with an infection.
The suit states that it is Barron’s belief that he continued to suffer from an underlying infection. In February 2024, he felt a pop in his shoulder and returned to rest for a couple of days. He remembers walking to a hospital and nearly died from multiple organ and heart failure due to infection. He was in an induced coma for six days.
Barron now requires a walker and has severe memory issues.
The suit accuses Lowe’s of negligently failing to provide protective equipment.
Attorney Anthony Buzbee represents him.
Case No. 2024-21872