Lowe's Home Centers Sued for Over $1 Million Claiming Fork Lift Ran Over Customer

ODESSA, TX — An Odessa, Texas man filed a seven-figure personal injury lawsuit against Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, claiming he was run over by an employee driving a powered lift inside the company’s Odessa store in late 2023.

Bobby Sanchez alleges that on December 30, 2023, he was shopping at the Lowe’s located at 4101 E. 42nd Street in Odessa when an employee operating a lift (commonly referred to as a forklift or reach truck) struck him and ran him over, causing severe and permanent injuries.

The lawsuit, which asserts direct negligence against Lowe’s and vicarious liability for the employee’s actions, seeks damages “over $1,000,000” for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and loss of earning capacity.

Sanchez originally filed the case on October 6, 2025, in the 358th Judicial District Court of Ector County. On December 3, 2025, Lowe’s removed the case to federal court, invoking diversity jurisdiction. The company is a North Carolina citizen for jurisdictional purposes, while Sanchez is a Texas resident, and the amount in controversy far exceeds the $75,000 federal threshold.

The case is now pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Midland Division, assigned to Judge David Counts.

Lowe’s filed its original answer in state court on November 24, 2025, denying the allegations and raising affirmative defenses. The company is represented by Melissa Dorman Matthews and Guy W. Swartz of Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC in Plano, Texas.

Sanchez is represented by attorney David James Hatcher.

Neither side has issued public statements beyond the court filings, and the case remains in the early discovery phase. No trial date has been scheduled.