A Milton, Fla. man has filed a suit against a maritime company following a slip and fall incident aboard the Ocean Victory on Oct. 6, 2013.
Peter Nolan filed a lawsuit June 9 against Oceaneering International Inc. in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Louisiana. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff was serving aboard the vessel as the second master. At approximately 9 a.m. the plaintiff had exited he wheel house and took the portside ladder intending to go to the Port Bridge Wing. While proceeding down the ladder, the plaintiff slipped and fell upon his coccyx, which was later determined to be fractured by two doctors, one chosen by the defendant. Following an injury report to the defendant's office in Morgan City, La., they demanded that the plaintiff undergo a second doctor of its choosing and to undergo screenings for possible drug or alcohol use. Neither was found in his system.
The plaintiff alleges that the ship was covered in morning dew and that this had caused surfaces to be slippery to the point of unseaworthiness. He also alleges that the company was in breach of legally imposed duty to provide reasonable care to employees. The plaintiff alleges that the ship had not taken proper safety precautions or to provide a reasonably safe workplace.
Damages sought by the plaintiff include pain and suffering for past and future as a result of the injury, medical, physical therapy and other health care costs and loss of earnings and earnings capacity for the past and future.
The plaintiff requests a jury trial against the defendant with regard to the Jones Act and hopes that he is awarded fair payment in damages alongside legal fees and other associated costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Kris Elliott of Elliott Law Firm, P.A. in Gulf Breeze, Fla.
U.S. District Court of Eastern Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-01995.