CenterPoint Energy Agrees to Confidential Settlement Over IBEW Local 66 Member’s Severe Electrocution Injuries

November 9, 2022

Law Firms Provost Umphrey and Williams Hart successful in reaching agreement for Houston-area man in negligence lawsuit

CenterPoint Energy has reached a confidential settlement with an electrical contractor who suffered life-changing injuries from an electrocution at a company substation.

Provost Umphrey Equity Partners Joe Fisher, II and Ed Fisher, as well as Williams Hart Partners John Eddie Williams, Jr. and Jim Hart, represent Brett Middleton, an employee of North Houston Pole Line, who was contracted to perform maintenance work at the Blodgett Substation that is operated by CenterPoint Energy.

According to the negligence lawsuit, on February 7, 2019, a CenterPoint Energy employee was supervising the work and another group of CenterPoint Energy employees. The supervisor asked Mr. Middleton and the other workers to start a new task in a different area of the substation. Before Mr. Middleton started working in that area, CenterPoint failed to de-energize all of the hazardous equipment, which led to his electrocution. Mr. Middleton suffered severe injuries, head and spine trauma, burns on his body, and the amputation of his left arm.

“There was no reason for any equipment to be energized near where Mr. Middleton was working,” said Joe Fisher. “This accident was 100 percent preventable, and now our client must live with his injuries for the rest of his life.”

According to the lawsuit, CenterPoint Energy was aware that the area had electricity and failed to de-energize the section for Mr. Middleton. In addition, the company failed to properly and safely de-energize any and all equipment that could be contacted by any workers that were present.

“We are happy to obtain this result for our client,” said Ed Fisher. “This settlement will provide Mr. Middleton with the medical care and financial means to sustain him for the remainder of his life.”

The case is Brent Middleton v. CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC, Cause No. 2019-29215 in the 11^th Judicial District in the District Court of Harris County, Texas.