Jones
An M/V Stones River crew member is blaming his back injuries on untrained and unskilled co-employees on board his vessel.
Under the Jones Act, David Connelly filed suit against Trico Marine Operators, Trico Marine Assets and Schlumberger Technology Corp. on May 12 in Orleans Parish District Court.
According to the lawsuit, Connelly was working as a seaman aboard the vessel owned by the defendants on Dec. 17, 2007, when without warning, he was allegedly injured. Connelly states the negligence and unseaworthiness of the vessel caused his injuries, but he does not state how the vessel was unseaworthy. He states he sustained serious injuries including possible ruptured and herniated discs and nerve damage.
Connelly accuses the defendants of failing to provide a safe place to work, failing to provide proper equipment and personnel, failing to warn, failing to exercise reasonable care, failing to properly man the vessel, hiring untrained and unskilled co-employees, retaining employees found to be careless and unskilled, creating and maintaining an unseaworthy vessel and failing to provide prompt and adequate medical care.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for medical expenses, physical pain, mental anguish, disability, maintenance and cure, plus interest, attorney's fees and court costs.
New Orleans attorneys Lawrence Blake Jones, David Whitmore and Stephen Armbruster of Scheuermann & Jones are representing Connelly.
Judge Kern A. Reese is assigned to the case.
Case No. 10-4806