Charles Emma Small, Individually and as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Yoretta Coleman v. Ronald Roberts and Adams Truck Lines, Inc.

**Small v. Roberts and Adams Truck Lines (Texas, 2005)** This case involved a wrongful death and personal injury lawsuit filed by Charles Emma Small against truck driver Ronald Roberts and his employer, Adams Truck Lines, Inc. Small was acting both on his own behalf and as the personal representative of Yoretta Coleman's estate, suggesting Coleman died in an incident involving the truck driver and company. Unfortunately, the court records available don't provide enough detail to determine what the court ultimately decided in this case or what damages, if any, were awarded. **What This Means for Workers:** While we can't analyze the specific outcome, this case illustrates an important principle in employment law: when employees cause harm to others while doing their job, both the individual worker and their employer can potentially be held legally responsible. This is called "vicarious liability" - where employers can be sued for their employees' actions during work hours. For workers, this highlights the importance of following safety protocols and company policies, especially in jobs involving driving or operating heavy machinery. It also shows why many employers carry liability insurance to protect both the company and employees when accidents occur during work duties.