Houston Workplace Injury Lawyer

Client Profile: Blake Lewis

This story was featured in the February 2005 issue of the Letter of the Law.

Worrying about making the rent, paying the electric bill and providing food for one's family is a job all of us have. What makes Blake Lewis unique is that, in addition to his own, he helps dozens of Harris County families shoulder these burdens. Blake serves as the executive director of Bethel's Heavenly Hands, a community outreach program in the heart of southwest Houston.

Relying entirely on Blake's fundraising capability, Heavenly Hands uses its donations to help families who are trapped by the most oppressive of society's ills – drugs, violence and neglect. But there was a time when Blake himself could have been a candidate for Heavenly Hands' generosity.

Growing up in the dangerous neighborhood of Sunnyside in southeast Houston, Blake was one of the few who made it out. Eventually he got a job in the construction industry. Blake enjoyed the challenge of his work, which included drilling 100-ft. holes for the thousands of support pillars that line the Beltway.

In 1998, while working on a project in Puerto Rico, Blake and his crew were performing a routine task involving a newly constructed bridge. Suddenly a safety-latch on a drilling truck snapped, releasing a powerful cable at the speed of a gunshot. "All I heard was 'WATCH OUT!' and immediately looked down – and saw my right boot dangling off my leg."

Unfortunately, the devastating injury was only the beginning of his ordeal. Because his employer didn't send an emergency aircraft for four, long days, the damage Blake sustained became irreversible: thus, the lower half of his right leg had to be amputated. It was while sitting in a hospital bed, contemplating what was going to become of his life, that Blake's sister suggested he contact Williams Kherkher.

Thanks to the work of Jim Hart and his staff, Blake was able to file a negligence lawsuit against his employer and ultimately settle his case. Using money from his settlement, Blake decided to completely recast his life. First, he made sure that his children's college educations were paid for. His oldest daughter, Shatasha, is now in her junior year at Stephen F. Austin. She plans to pursue elementary education.

Blake then dedicated his career to his faith, committing himself full-time to Heavenly Hands. Using financial incentives, the ministry has helped several families rebuild their lives. Providing both the hope and the opportunity to start over is something Blake understands as well as anyone.