Blessey Marine sued for making employee work in icy conditions

A tankerman is suing his employer after he was forced to work in icy conditions and a co-worker slipped causing him injuries.

Rodriquez D. Bailey filed suit against Blessey Marine Service Inc. and Blessey Marine Inc. on April 11 in federal court in New Orleans.

According to the lawsuit, Bailey was injured while working with deckhands unloading barges during snowy and icy conditions. He states he was transferring a spill kit in an icy area when a co-worker slipped, causing the kit to tumble and injure Bailey.

Bailey states that he should not have been required to work on a deck, with no no-skid surface, in icy conditions. The defendant is also accused of failing to properly maintain control of the cargo, having an insufficient and inexperienced crew and failing to use a mechanical lifting device.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, lost earnings, loss of found, maintenance and cure, attorney's fees, punitive damages, interest and court costs.

Bailey is represented by Steve J. Gordon of Gordon, Elias & Seely in Houston. A jury trial is requested.

Case No. 2:11-cv-00800