A Texas teenager visiting New Orleans with his family suffered a severe brain injury after being struck by a falling tree limb in Jackson Square. The incident occurred on July 7th while the teen, Gavin Cristea from San Antonio, was sitting on a bench with his mother and sibling. The family has filed a lawsuit against the city of New Orleans and several other entities, alleging negligence in the maintenance and care of the 85-year-old tree.

The Cristea family expressed their uncertainty about the extent of Gavin's injuries and the long road to recovery ahead. "There are so many unknowns right now," they stated. "We don’t even know the full damage to his brain, and he faces numerous surgeries. It's been a constant up and down; every sign of progress seems to be followed by a setback."

The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, also names ArborPro Inc., Bayou Tree Service, Inc., Smith Construction Company, and Hudson Insurance Company as defendants. The family contends that construction activities near Jackson Square may have compromised the tree's root system, leading to a decline in its health and ultimately the limb failure. They argue that arborists responsible for the tree's care should have identified these issues and taken preventative measures.

The lawsuit alleges that the tree's deterioration began years prior to the incident, citing a history of negligent inspections, inadequate work by city contractors, and the city's overall failure to properly maintain the tree and ensure public safety. It points out that another large limb had fallen from the same tree just days before the incident involving Gavin.

As a result of the falling limb, Cristea sustained severe injuries to his brain, skull, face, and spine. The family is seeking unspecified damages to cover the extensive medical expenses and ongoing care required for Gavin's recovery.