MIDLAND, TX — A longtime oilfield worker has filed a federal lawsuit against a Louisiana-based drug testing company, claiming negligent handling of his urine sample led to a false positive result for cocaine and his subsequent firing from ProPetro Services. Jose Luis Torres alleges the mishap cost him a high-paying job and caused significant financial, emotional, and reputational harm.
The complaint, filed on January 2, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Midland/Odessa Division (Case No. 7:26-cv-00001), names Life Line Technologies LLC d/b/a Xstreme MD as the defendant. Torres seeks damages exceeding $75,000, including back pay, compensatory damages for pain and suffering, and punitive damages, along with a jury trial.
According to the lawsuit, Torres had been employed by ProPetro Services since December 2017, earning gross wages of $170,876.86 in 2024. On October 21, 2025, he provided a urine sample at Xstreme MD's collection site in Midland, located at 2600 FM 307. Torres claims the facility was understaffed, disorganized, and lacked proper supervision and security. He observed multiple urine samples present and lost sight of his own while washing his hands, raising concerns about potential mix-ups.
Three days later, on October 24, 2025, Torres learned he had tested positive for cocaine—a result he insists was impossible, as he was not using drugs. He immediately disputed the findings with a Medical Review Officer and ProPetro, providing negative results from subsequent tests and a statement from his doctor noting the unreliability of some drug tests. Despite this, ProPetro terminated him on November 17, 2025, solely based on the positive result.
The suit accuses Xstreme MD of multiple counts of negligence, including inadequate staffing, failure to train and supervise employees, improper sample collection, and insufficient security and chain of custody. It also includes a libel claim, alleging the company falsely published to third parties that the cocaine-positive sample belonged to Torres, damaging his reputation. The complaint references federal regulations under 49 C.F.R. Part 40, which govern drug testing procedures, and notes this was not the first instance of negligence by the defendant.
Torres argues the damages were foreseeable, given Xstreme MD's role in providing accurate testing for employment purposes, and that the company acted with reckless disregard for its duties.
Life Line Technologies LLC, operating as Xstreme MD, is a Broussard, Louisiana-based firm specializing in occupational medicine and healthcare solutions for remote workforces in the energy sector, including pre-employment testing and medical case management. The company serves over 400 customers and manages care for more than 70,000 patients, primarily in industries like oil and gas.
ProPetro Services, headquartered in Midland, is a leading provider of hydraulic fracturing and complementary oilfield services in the Permian Basin. The company emphasizes community involvement and safety in the region.
The case is in its early stages, with summons issued to the defendant.
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