Suit Alleges Defective Lift Caused Man's Death While Repairing Sanctuary

The parents of a deceased man and the representative of his estate have filed suit against two corporations, claiming the man’s fatal personal injuries were the result of a fall inside of a church caused by a defective man lift.

According to the suit filed by Ricky and Belinda Matak and Misty Sonnier in Texas’ Jefferson County District Court on May 11, Walter Matak died in an incident on March 30 in Beaumont, Texas.

The plaintiffs do not elaborate on the incident, but claim it was the result of a defective Genie man lift that was designed, manufactured, marketed, and inspected by Genie Industries and Terex Corporation.

Media reports from the date of the incident say that Matak was working inside the sanctuary at Cathedral in the Pines Church. At the time, he was employed by Gulf Coast Electric and was performing maintenance in the building when the lift he was using became unstable and caused him to fall nearly 40 feet to the ground.

Ricky and Belinda Matak, Walter Matak’s parents, claim that his death has caused them to suffer mental anguish and lost companionship and society and incur funeral and burial costs.

Sonnier, the representative of Matak’s estate, claims mental anguish, physical pain and suffering, and the loss of Matak’s earning capacity.

The suit alleges negligence on the part of Genie and Terex for claiming the lift to be safe when it was not.

The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages.