Man Awarded $6 Million After Losing Arm In Permian Basin Accident
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: July 26, 2012
MIDLAND -- A Midland County jury has awarded a man who lost an arm in a West Texas industrial accident more than $6 million in damages.
Jurors awarded Michael Hartlove $6,129,083.19 Thursday.
Hartlove, 50, lost his arm below the elbow when it got stuck in a paper baler at Permian Basin MHMR.
The paper baler was an industrial compactor being used to make bales of recycled paper for transport to a paper mill.
Hartlove testified that he was loading scrap paper into a baler when the compacting machine suddenly started up and severed his arm below the elbow.
Evidence from the trial showed that someone bypassed the safety sensor on the compactor, in order to start it while the loading gate was open.
Hartlove was a client at Permian Basin MHMR who was working at an occupational program when the incident happened.
Hartlove had also been diagnosed with mild mental retardation.
The MHMR program was being run in association with Butts Recycling, which has locations in Midland, Odessa and San Angelo.
Hartlove was represented at trial by Kevin Glasheen and Jason Medina of the law firm -- Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, LLP. Glasheen, Valles & Inderman represent people who have been injured in accidents and has offices in Lubbock, Odessa and El Paso.
Attorneys with Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, LLP sued both Permian Basin MHMR and Butts Recycling over the incident.
Jurors found that Permian Basin MHMR and Butts Recycling were both 50 percent responsible for the accident.
However, since Permian Basin MHMR has worker's compensation insurance, Hartlove will only receive half of the $6,129,083.19 awarded.
Jurors awarded Michael Hartlove $6,129,083.19 Thursday.
Hartlove, 50, lost his arm below the elbow when it got stuck in a paper baler at Permian Basin MHMR.
The paper baler was an industrial compactor being used to make bales of recycled paper for transport to a paper mill.
Hartlove testified that he was loading scrap paper into a baler when the compacting machine suddenly started up and severed his arm below the elbow.
Evidence from the trial showed that someone bypassed the safety sensor on the compactor, in order to start it while the loading gate was open.
Hartlove was a client at Permian Basin MHMR who was working at an occupational program when the incident happened.
Hartlove had also been diagnosed with mild mental retardation.
The MHMR program was being run in association with Butts Recycling, which has locations in Midland, Odessa and San Angelo.
Hartlove was represented at trial by Kevin Glasheen and Jason Medina of the law firm -- Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, LLP. Glasheen, Valles & Inderman represent people who have been injured in accidents and has offices in Lubbock, Odessa and El Paso.
Attorneys with Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, LLP sued both Permian Basin MHMR and Butts Recycling over the incident.
Jurors found that Permian Basin MHMR and Butts Recycling were both 50 percent responsible for the accident.
However, since Permian Basin MHMR has worker's compensation insurance, Hartlove will only receive half of the $6,129,083.19 awarded.
