Deckhand sues after cable slips and hits his knee

An injured deckhand has filed a lawsuit against his employer after his crewmembers failed to slow a pulling cable.

Carl M. Walker filed suit against MMR Group Inc. and ATP Oil & Gas Corp. on Jan. 20 in federal court in New Orleans.

At the time of the accident, Jan. 3, 2010, Walker was working aboard the self-contained floating drilling vessel owned by ATP. Walker states he was pulling electrical cable in a line with fellow crewmembers on the deck when the cable slipped from his shoulder.

According to his complaint, he yelled for the crewmembers to slow down pulling the cable but they did not respond. The cable slipped from his shoulder and slammed into Walker's knee causing severe damage and injury.

Walker argues the accident occurred because there was a lack of cable support, lack of equipment to feed the cable into the overhead cable trays and because the crew refused to slow down in pulling the cable.

The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to provide its personnel with safe and efficient tools and equipment, failing to provide sufficient, competent and adequate crew, a safe place to work, and a seaworthy vessel, failing to warn, failing to adequately inspect the vessel for safety hazards and failing to perform the work at hand in a safe manner.

Walker is seeking damages for physical pain, suffering and disability, mental and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of business goodwill, loss of employability and interest.

He is represented by New Orleans attorney Michael L. Barras. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-00127