Gaidry
An x-ray technician working in the Gulf of Mexico has filed a Jones Act lawsuit after he suffered back injuries when he was allegedly jerked violently in a suspended personnel basket.
Darnell Deon Baloney filed suit against Ensco Inc. and Stone Energy Offshore on Nov. 2 in federal court in New Orleans.
The alleged incident occurred on Nov. 16, 2010 as Baloney was employed by Bayou Testers and was working under the control of the defendants on the ENSCO 99 located in the Gulf of Mexico.
He claims he was suspended in a metal personnel basket and was being moved over the crane's boom in order to inspect wells, when the basket hit the crane's cable, causing the basket to tilt and jerk violently. Baloney states the incident caused him to suffer progressive, serious and permanent injuries to his lumbar spine.
The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to provide Baloney a safe place to work, failing to properly inspect, maintain and operate the crane at issue, failing to properly train and supervise the crane operator, for the presence of inferior, inadequate and otherwise improper and defective, equipment, tools, gears, and appurtenances for the work being performed and for failing to repair equipment under its control onboard the ENSCO 99.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for pain, physical and mental suffering, mental anguish and distress, humiliation, scarring, disfigurement, disability, impairment of function, loss of fringe benefits, loss of found, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, interest and court costs.
Baloney is represented by Houma attorney E. James Gaidry, Jr.
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:11-cv-02730