Offshore supply vessel company sued after crew member kills co-worker

An offshore supply company is facing a Jones Act lawsuit after a crew member brutally beat a fellow crew member who later died from his injuries.

The family of deceased Edgardo Poublanc Munoz filed suit against Tidewater Inc., Tidewater Crewing Ltd. and Tidewater Marine Egypt on May 17 in federal court in New Orleans.

The incident occurred on June 22, 2010 as Munoz was working on the M/V Ang Tide alongside crew member Mohamed Fouda. According to the lawsuit, Munoz was brutally beaten by Fouda while both were on watch on the bridge. Munoz died from complications of his injuries on July 17, 2010.

The defendants are accused of wrongful death of a seaman under the Jones Act and negligence for failing to provide a safe place to work, failing to supervise employees, failing to properly respond to the emergency, and failing to provide prompt and adequate medical care and a competent physician aboard the M/V Ang Tide.

Further, the defendants are accused of providing an unseaworthy vessel by maintaining Mohamed Fouda as a mate aboard the vessel with knowledge of his propensity for violence.

The plaintiffs are Yanethe Rosario Poublanc Ayala Miralda, as the deceased's widow and as mother of a minor child and the deceased's two adult children, Annie Bessy Poublanc Ayala and Edgardo Lex Poublanc Ayala.

The family is seeking damages for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, punitive damages, funeral and burial expenses, interest and court costs.

The plaintiffs are represented by Timothy J. Falcon, Jeremiah A. Sprague and Jenna M. Hatty of Falcon Law Firm in Marreo.

U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-01170