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www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/06/01/houston-family-sues-

arbys-after-63-year-old-woman-beat-her-hands-bloody-

before-dying-in-restaurant-freezer

Houston family sues Arbys after 63-year-old woman beat her hands bloody before dying in restaurant freezer

"63-year-old Nguyet Le was temporarily working at a New Iberia, Louisiana Arbys when she died. Her son found her body in the restaurants freezer.

The children of a Houston woman who died in an Arbys walk-in freezer earlier this month are suing the fast food restaurant and franchise owner, alleging her death could have been prevented.

Nguyet Le, 63, died May 11 at the Arbys in New Iberia, Louisiana, where she was on a temporary general manager assignment. The duty was supposed to last four weeks but was extended by two weeks, according to the lawsuit filed in Harris County.

Les son, who worked with her, found her dead in the freezer.

Ms. Le fought for her life. She had a panic moment, said Houston attorney Paul Skrabanek, who represents the family. She beat so hard that her hands [were] bloodied and there was blood on the door and ultimately fell into the fetal position on the floor face first. And the cause of death is hypothermia.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligence and gross negligence, the freezer was typically kept at 10 degrees below zero if not colder. Also, the freezer latch had been reportedly broken since August 2022 and employees say they have had to use a screwdriver to open and close the door, adding that a box of oil was used to keep the freezer door open.

The freezer door has been broken for months. Theyve known about it, workers who have complained and everyone knows it, there was multiple work orders put in, a former employee told a Louisiana television station.

They didnt want to be identified but shared photos from inside the freezer.
This happened to the lady because of them... if they wouldve got the freezer door fixed this wouldnt be an issue, the former employee said.

Skrabanek said the door got fixed a day or two after the death.

Weve hired a pathologist to help us understand what it is like to freeze to death. And whats been relayed to me is that its similar to burning to death. Its panic, sheer panic. Its curling up, not being able to move at some point, Skrabanek said. Hopefully the silver lining [hopefully] what comes out of this is that the Le legacy is that things get safer in restaurants like this.

The family is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
Arbys wrote in a statement that the company is aware of the incident and fully cooperating with local authorities investigating."