Rogelio was a Tyson Foods packager, who had a reputation amongst his coworkers for being a hard worker. However, one day, a fellow Tyson employee, who lacked the proper forklift qualifications, dropped a load of dry ice in the packaging area. To hastily clean up the ice chips, the employee sprayed water on the floor, unwittingly transforming the area into an ice rink. Shortly after, Rogelio slipped on the ice and suffered a broken shoulder. Rogelio was never warned about the hazardous conditions, and no safety measures were implemented, leaving him and others at risk of harm.
Seeking medical assistance, he turned to a Tyson nurse, who dismissed his pain and provided nothing more than ice and heat treatment for his shoulder. Desperate for relief, Rogelio eventually sought treatment at an emergency room. However, his insurance coverage was rejected because he did not use Tyson’s designated doctors.
The consequences of Rogelio’s injury extended beyond physical pain. Unable to work due to his debilitating condition, he fell into a cycle of hardship. His wife, Sarah, had to sell family heirlooms and possessions to make ends meet, and they had to resort to living in a motel or with friends. Despite Rogelio’s efforts to secure employment, he found it impossible to keep a job because he never received the physical therapy he desperately needed. The lingering effects of his untreated injury prevented him from lifting his arm to a certain level, affecting his ability to perform work tasks effectively.
Hope emerged when Rogelio’s case came to the attention of Williams Hart and Boundas Law Firm. When our attorneys met with Sarah, Rogelio’s wife, she shared a story of a strong and cheerful man whose life had been shattered by the accident. Throughout the litigation process, Tyson never offered Rogelio an apology and even blamed him for his accident.
Consequently, Rogelio’s legal team, comprised of lawyers Cesar Tavares, Alma Tavares, and Michael Samaniego, alongside paralegal Genae Leal, took Tyson to court. Throughout the legal proceedings, it became increasingly apparent that the jury empathized with Rogelio’s plight. The mistreatment and lack of regard demonstrated by Tyson Foods struck a chord with the jury. What began as a case of corporate negligence transformed into a powerful narrative of a small family seeking justice against a large corporation.
