Construction worker sues Howard Schultz after hurting his back at the Starbucks CEO’s home

A construction worker is suing Howard Schultz after he hurt his back while helping renovate the former Starbucks CEO’s home in the Hamptons.  

Julio Guerrero claims he was forced to wear ‘dangerous footwear’ while doing construction work in Schultz’s $14million East Hampton home in June 2017. 

Guerrero slipped and fell while wearing the booties on a ladder and cracked his back, the suit claims.  

Julio Guerrero said he suffered ‘spinal pathology’ and had to under go surgery after falling on a ladder and cracking his back at Schultz’s home 

The construction worker said he suffered ‘spinal pathology’ and had to undergo surgery for ‘severe and permanent personal injuries’. 

Guerrero is now suing the Howard D Schultz Resident Trust for unspecified damages. 

Loren Hostek, who represents Schultz’s trust, required all workers in the billionaire’s home to wear booties, according to the lawsuit. 

The booties were meant to protect the floors from scratches or dirt.  

Guerrero had been hired to help renovate Schultz’s $14million East Hampton home (pictured) in the summer of 2017

Loren Hostek, who represents Schultz’s trust, required all workers in the billionaire’s home to wear booties. The booties were meant to protect the floors from scratches or dirt

Guerrero slipped and fell while wearing the booties on a ladder, the suit claims. Pictured is a sign Guerrero said was in the home while he was helping renovate the residence 

Guerrero claims that the ladder was ‘inadequate, defective, and improperly placed’ and that the workers were exposed to ‘dangerous conditions’. 

Workers were also ‘not provided with proper, adequate, and properly placed safety devices and safety equipment’, the suit claims.   

Guerrero’s suit comes just days after Schultz was forced to apologize after claiming he had spent more time with veterans than other presidential candidates – despite the fact that two Democratic hopefuls are members of the US Armed Forces. 

Schultz, a potential independent candidate for the 2020 election, made the gaffe on conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt’s radio show on Thursday.

Guerrero (pictured) is suing the Howard D Schultz Resident Trust for unspecified damages

When asked about his ability to run the military, he said: ‘I probably have spent more time in the last decade certainly than anyone running for president with the military.’ 

‘I’ve been to Okinawa, I’ve been to Kuwait. I’ve been to the national training center in the Mojave Desert.’ 

But Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is a lieutenant officer in the Naval Reserve. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 for seven months. 

And Hawaii Rep Tulsi Gabbard, 37, who launched her campaign for the presidency in January, is a major in Hawaii Army National Guard. She also served in Iraq and Kuwait.  

Guerrero’s suit comes days after Schultz was forced to apologize after claiming he had spent more time with veterans than other presidential candidates – despite the fact that Democratic candidates Pete Buttigieg and Tulsi Gabbard are both soldiers

Schultz made the comments but quickly apologized on Twitter after realizing Buttigieg and Gabbard had served in the armed forces

Buttigieg tweeted hours after Schultz’s comments: ‘I remember a Green Beans Coffee at the exchange at Bagram, and a decent espresso machine run by the Italian NATO element at ISAF HQ. But I don’t recall seeing any Starbucks over there.’ 

Schultz later tweeted an apology to Buttigieg and Gabbard. 

‘Today I said I spent more time with the military than any candidate running for president. That was wrong,’ he tweeted on Thursday. 

‘In that moment I made something that should unite us all, about me. I made a mistake and I apologize.’