Rigger sues for $3.5 million after suffering brain injury

A rigger is suing his employer for more than $3.5 million after suffering a severe brain and spinal injury.

Pascal Romano filed suit against Gulf Coast Material Management Inc. and ABC Insurance Co. on Feb. 25 in federal court in New Orleans.

The accident occurred on Sept. 1, 2010 as Romano was working as a rigger for the defendant aboard a crane barge. While assisting the crane barge in unloading another barge, Romano suffered a severe brain and spinal injury when the load being lifted by the crane barge crushed him.

The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to provide a safe place to work, failing to provide proper and adequate tools, failing to follow safe procedures, for ordering the task to be completed in an unsafe manner, failing to provide skilled and adequate crew and for acting without regard to the safety of Romano.

Romano is represented by Baton Rouge attorney J. Price McNamara. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval Jr. is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-00473