A former employee of the Department of Public Lands has filed a lawsuit for the injuries he suffered when he allegedly accidentally hacked his arm with a machete during a bee attack on Rota. He alleges he was later advised there was no workers\u2019 compensation coverage for DPL employees who are injured on the job.<\/p>\n
Jerry R. Villagomez is suing the CNMI government and DPL for failure to provide workers\u2019 compensation coverage and negligence.<\/p>\n
Villagomez, through counsel Michael W. Dotts, is suing for unspecified damages, court costs, and attorney\u2019s fees.<\/p>\n
Saipan Tribune tried but failed to obtain comments from DPL on Thursday.<\/p>\n
According to Dotts, Villagomez, who worked for DPL as a surveying trainee from Aug. 13, 2012, to April 29, 2013, was injured on March 4, 2013, when bees attacked him while he was clearing a jungle area on Rota for a survey.<\/p>\n
Dotts said that DPL normally provides insect spray that surveyors use to kill or repel bees. However, DPL allegedly did not provide that insect spray to Villagomez.<\/p>\n
While trying to swat the bees away, Villagomez allegedly hit his arm with a machete, causing serious injury. Since then, Villagomez has been experiencing numbness and severe pain on his arm and hand, Dotts said.<\/p>\n
Villagomez filed a claim with the Workers Compensation Commission, but DPL allegedly advised him that it does not have workers\u2019 compensation coverage available for DPL employees who are injured on the job.<\/p>\n
As a result of the accident, Villagomez suffered pain and often had sleepless nights and days, Dotts said.<\/p>\n
Villagomez claimed through the Office of the Attorney General for damages and as a result, he was provided with medical treatment, including surgery in Guam.<\/p>\n
However, Dotts said, the process of going through the OAG, rather than through WCC, caused a delay in the treatment of his injury and increased his injury.<\/p>\n
Dotts said the government and DPL are required by law to obtain workers\u2019 compensation insurance for all its employees, including Villagomez, for work- related injuries.<\/p>\n
Dotts said the government and DPL breached their duty to Villagomez by failing to provide insect spray to use in the event of a bee or a wasp attack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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