Alaska resident files lawsuit after injuring back aboard vessels

Barge worker Donald Mark Ryan of Alaska filed a Jones Act lawsuit against Galliano Marine Service, Nautical Solutions, Nautical Ventures, and Fairweather Marine on May 6 in federal court of New Orleans.

While working aboard a vessel docked in Alaska, Ryan injured his back trying to move a heavy door. A couple months later, Ryan injured his back while trying to throw heavy chains across oversized cargo boxes on a vessel docked in Louisiana. Ryan states his is suffering from severe, painful and disabling injuries to his back caused by both vessels' unseaworthiness.

Ryan claims he was injured due to the unseaworthiness of the vessels he was working on.

Asking the court to award past and future maintenance and cure, Ryan accuses the defendants of "arbitrarily, capriciously and without legal cause, failed and/or refused to investigate" Ryan's entitlement to cure and to pay for his medical expenses and maintenance payments of $172.66 per day.

Ryan is asking the court for more than $1 million in damages for physical and mental pain and suffering, permanent physical scarring and disability, and loss of wage earning capacity.

New Orleans attorney Paul M. Sterbcow of Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson is representing Ryan. Jury trial requested.

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

Case No. 2:10cv01414