Seaman sues employer for $1 million after knee injury

A seaman is asking a federal court to award him more than $1 million after he injured his knee while working on a vessel.

James Otis Dye filed a lawsuit against A. R. Charamine Marine Management Inc. on April 5 in the New Orleans federal court of the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Dye claims he suffered a severe, painful, and disabling injury to his right knee and other parts of his body as a result of the unseaworthiness of the vessel. The lawsuit does not detail how Dye injured his knee or how the vessel is unseaworthy.

The plaintiffs said that the defendant's negligence has caused him to suffer physical and mental pain and suffering, permanent physical scarring, disability and loss of wage earning capacity.

Due to the alleged negligence, Dye is asking the court to award damages in excess of $1 million.

According to the complaint, the defendant has not paid the maintenance rate for the time Dye seeks necessary medical treatment. A. R. Charamine is obligated to pay $62 per day from June 22, 2009 until Dye reaches maximum medical cure, the complaint states. Dye is asking for an additional award of $100,000 to recover compensatory damages.

He is represented byNew Orleans attorney Paul M. Sterbcow of Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson.

U.S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan is assigned to the litigation.

Case No 2:10cv01033