A Kaufman County jury has awarded $10.45 million to a woman who was injured during a corporate outing, finding Cummings Electrical and its employees negligent in connection with a shooting that occurred during the event in April 2023.
Felissa Gamero’s attorney, C. Gregory Shamoun of Dallas-based Shamoun & Norman, said he and his client were “very grateful” for the verdict.
Shamoun said the 10-day jury trial before Judge Casey Blair was hotly contested.
“If you can think of a motion, they filed it,” Shamoun said of opposing counsel.
After two and a half hours of deliberation, the jury found that Cummings Electrical failed to provide adequate supervision, proper event planning, and safe premises conditions, leading to Gamero’s serious hand injuries.
Gamero was invited to participate in a corporate event at the Cornerstone Ranch in Kaufman County, which included organized activities involving firearms. During the event, a Cummings Electrical employee discharged a 9mm handgun, striking Gamero in the hand and causing severe, permanent injuries requiring surgery and continuing medical treatment.
“I’m grateful to the jury for listening carefully to the evidence and recognizing that what happened to me should never have occurred,” Gamero said in a news release. “This verdict validates my experience, and I hope it sends a message to other companies that they must take safety seriously when they invite employees and guests to participate in activities involving firearms.”
Shamoun said Cummings Electrical argued that the projectile that injured Gamero came from somewhere else. Cummings Electrical presented the jury with evidence that it said showed the ammunition clips given to investigators didn’t match what was surgically removed from Gamero’s hand.
Shamoun was seeking $29 million in damages, but the jury awarded a total of $10.45 million for Gamero’s injuries and future needs.
The jury awarded:
- $4 million for pain and suffering,
- $3 million for physical impairment,
- $2.5 million for mental anguish,
- $200,000 for past disfigurement,
- $150,000 for past loss of earning capacity,
- $500,000 for future loss of earning capacity, and
- $100,000 for future medical expenses
Brian Norman, Stephan Tittle Jr. and Lucas Diaz of Shamoun & Norman also represented Gamero.
Crissy Shaffer, Willie Ben Daw III and Matthew Mateer of Daw & Ray, Darlene Villalba, Joe Carreón, Mary Yakou, and Josiah Trager of Hermes Law, Rodney Lawson and Brian Shaw of Carrington, Coleman, Solman & Blumenthal represented Cummings Electrical. They did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The case is Felissa Gamero v. Cummings Electrical, L.P., 115395-86.