Meyerland/Westbury woman blames sister for burn injuries

A Harris County couple is suing over claims a woman’s legs and feet erupted into flames while sitting in the backyard of her sister’s Meyerland/Westbury home.

Rachel and James Estrada filed a lawsuit on Aug. 4 in the Harris County District Court against Meyerland/Westbury residents Ryan and Vanessa Patterson, citing negligence.

The Estradas say that while visiting the Pattersons, Mrs. Estrada's sister and brother-in-law, on June 5, 2010, the lower half of Mrs. Estrada's body erupted into flames after a dog, owned by Mrs. Patterson, knocked over a tiki torch lantern, splattering the lantern’s flammable fuel all over her.

According to the brief, the Estradas were sitting in the backyard of the Pattersons’ Meyerland/Westbury home, when flames engulfed Mrs. Estrada's feet and legs after she fell into the combustible oily substance that spilled from the lamp.

The suit alleges that after Mrs. Estrada managed to crawl to the grass to put out the flames, she was transported to the hospital for care.  

The Estradas are seeking $750,000 in damages and court costs. They are being represented in the case by Houston attorney Matthew Nicholas.  

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-45989.

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.