Heights restaurant blamed for second-degree burn

A Heights-area restaurant is being sued over claims it failed to provide an employee with a safe work environment.

Thania Cortes filed a lawsuit June 22 in the Harris County District Court against Heights-area Zelko Bistro, citing negligence.

Cortes says that on March 14, she sustained serious injuries while working in the kitchen at Zelko Bistro, located at 705 E. 11th St. According to the brief, her hand and arm were burned by extremely hot oil.

Cortes is seeking damages and court costs. She is being represented in the case by Houston attorneys Alejandro Padua and John Urquhart.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-36383.

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.