A Harvey man has filed a lawsuit against his employer following a incident where he slipped and fell down several steps on a staircase while aboard the marine vessel Knockout.
Kortney King filed a lawsuit against GulfMark Americas Inc. on June 8 in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Louisiana. According to the lawsuit, King was employed by the defendant as a deckhand and QMED, which includes varying duties while on-board. On Feb. 18, 2014, the plaintiff had been assisting with grocery delivery while the vessel was in Port Fourchon during a crew shift. During this event the plaintiff slipped on a substance believed to be melted ice down several steps and as a result sustained severe injuries to his back, head, hands and legs.
The plaintiff alleges that his injuries can be attributed to negligence of the defendant. This includes the failure to inspect and plan for potential hazards, failing to account for the carrying or storage of ice causing it to become a safety hazard and failing to provide a safe working environment.
The plaintiff also alleges that the vessel was not fit for its intended purpose and that it did not have the proper safety precautions to continue its transportation operations among issues relating to crew shortages and other seaworthiness conditions to be determined by trial.
Due to this incident, the suit states that the plaintiff is entitled to damages including loss of wages, impairment to future wage earning capacity, suffering of physical, emotional and mental pain and loss of enjoyment of life.
The plaintiff hopes that judgement will be made in his favor and that damages and proceeding costs, including legal fees, are paid by the defendant.
The plaintiff is represented by J.Christopher Zainey Jr. and Brian Marcelle of Huber, Slack Thomas & Marcelle, LLP.
U.S. District Court of Eastern Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-01964-SSV-DEK.