Second lawsuit filed in Church's Chicken collapse, asking for $150M

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A second lawsuit, for $150 million, has been filed in connection with the collapse of the floor at a Church's Chicken restaurant in Livingston, Texas, that left workers severely burned.

Three employees of a Church's Chicken, including Erica Acevedo, Joselin Damian Gonzalez and Hugolina Guerrero de Garzon, fell into a crawlspace when a floor collapsed on Aug. 1. Burning hot grease and heavy equipment fell on top of them.

The victims suffered life-threatening injuries and remain hospitalized in intensive care.

A previous lawsuit filed on behalf of Erica Acevedo asked for $50 million in damages. The plaintiffs in this case are seeking $150 million in damages.

Attorney Benny Agosto Jr. told Eyewitness News restaurant operators were warned about the problem years ago. Agosto also said that, in July, other employees complained about the issue.

"Not only was the steel completely brittle and broken up from rust and being rotten, the concrete itself has infiltration of grease and oil. It's literally rotting, so when it's broken, the woman fall into the hole by gravity. Nothing they can do to hold themselves back. " said Agosto.

"They can't pull them out because of the oil. Not only that, the skin has now started boiling and burning. The skin starts coming off as they pull."