Seaman claims he tripped while painting hull

A seaman on the M/V Henri Cenac claims he suffered severe injuries to his low back after he tripped and fell while painting the inside of the vessel'shull.

Claiming the ship was unseaworthy, Paul Turner filed suit against Cenac Towing Co. and Enterprise Marine Services on May 7 in federal court in New Orleans.

The plaintiff states that he was in no way responsible for the trip and fall incident that occurred on Nov. 1, 2009.

Turner accuses the defendants of negligence for failing to provide him with a safe place to work, failing to provide adequate assistance, failing to provide proper equipment and personnel to accomplish his job in a reasonably safe manner, and failing to provide competent and adequate supervisory authority.

Turner is seeking damages for physical pain and mental anguish, loss of wages and benefits, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, physical impairment, lost ability to perform household services, loss of enjoyment of life, maintenance, cure benefits, attorney's fees, interest and court costs.

Accusing the defendants of unreasonably denying payments for maintenance and cure, Turner is asking the court for an award of exemplary damages.

New Orleans attorneys Lawrence Blake Jones, David C. Whitmore and Kristi A. Post of Scheuermann and Jones are representing Turner.

U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:10cv01424