Pearland resident sues after weightlifting accident

A Pearland resident is suing after, he says, he was injured while lifting weights at Bally Total Fitness in Webster.

Pearland resident Melvin Wiggins filed a lawsuit on Monday, March 26 in the Harris County District Court against Bally Total Fitness, Houston Health Clubs and the Brunswick Corp., citing negligence.

Wiggins says on Sept. 8, 2010, he suffered serious injuries while working out at the defendants' 20761 Gulf Freeway Webster location. According to the brief, the weight bench he used to lift 45-pound dumbbells collapsed and caused him to hit the floor hard.

The suit alleges the bench fell apart because it was missing the screws needed to hold it together.

Wiggins is seeking damages and court costs. He is being represented in the case by Houston attorney R. Keith Weber Jr.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-17860.
This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.