Testimony

began Tuesday morning in Judge Paschal English's

courtroom in Superior Court in the case of a man

suing an equipment company over an accident that

cost him part of his leg.

Robert

E. Johnson is seeking damages from Paul Sagon and

Sagon Equipment Co. Sales and Leasing after a

1994 accident at a Riverdale apartment complex

that resulted in the amputation of a portion of

his left leg. Johnson, a widower in his mid-60s,

now wears a prosthesis and walks with a cane.

concrete worker for most of his career, Johnson

was tearing out concrete at the Advantages

Apartments the week of the accident.

That

involves breaking up and removing old concrete,

putting down rock dust and using a mechanical

packer to prepare the hole for new concrete.

The

opening witness Tuesday morning, Johnson

testified that he was standing in a six-inch-deep

hole as barricades were being placed around it

for safety, when a piece of heavy equipment began

rolling and Johnson's leg was trapped under it

and the barricade.

Johnson's

attorney had him come out of the witness box to

identify photographs of the site, as well as

pictures of himself removing his socks and shoes

to display his prosthesis.

It

was pointed out by Johnson's own attorney that he

does drink alcohol, but he repeatedly testified

that he never does so before or during work.

Cross-examination

was expected to begin later Tuesday.