A lawsuit was filed on Wednesday against H-E-B, one of Texas' leading supermarket chains, alleging that the company has refused to pay the medical bills of an off-duty law enforcement official who was violently stabbed while providing security at one of its grocery stores.

The incident, which occurred on November 12, 2022, at the H-E-B store located at 2508 East Riverside Drive, involved Luke Werner, an off-duty law enforcement officer who was on duty as a security provider at the time. According to the lawsuit documents, Werner was attacked in a violent stabbing by a store patron, leaving him with multiple neck injuries.

The lawsuit contends that H-E-B owed Werner a duty to ensure a safe work environment and to exercise reasonable care in preventing such acts of violence on their premises. It alleges that the company's employees failed to take adequate measures to prevent the attack or to address the dangerous situation when they became aware of the assailant, Jaime Canales's aggressive behavior.

Werner's legal representation stated that, despite being on the clock as an H-E-B employee, the company has refused to cover the medical expenses that Werner incurred as a result of the attack. The lawsuit asserts that H-E-B staff had asked Werner to intervene in the situation, making it their responsibility to provide compensation for the injuries he sustained while fulfilling his duty as a security officer.

The lawsuit is seeking monetary relief in excess of $1 million. This includes compensation for damages of any kind, penalties, court costs, expenses, prejudgment interest, and attorney fees.

H-E-B has not yet released an official statement regarding the lawsuit. As the case unfolds, both parties are expected to present their arguments and evidence in court.