Mississippi seaman seeks $1.2 million after being hit in face with tongs

A Mississippi seaman has filed a lawsuit against his employer after he was hit in the face by a set of tongs.

Cedric Brent filed suit against Nabors Offshore Corp. on Sept. 14 in federal court in New Orleans.

The incident occurred on April 9, 2011 as Brent was working aboard the Rig P-10 in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. He states he sustained serious injuries, when he was struck in the side of the head and face by a set of tongs.

Nabors Offshore is accused of negligence for failing to avoid striking Brent in the face and head with a set of tongs and failing to perform the job in a reasonably safe manner.

The defendant is also accused of failing to provide a safe place to work, failing to provide Brent with an adequate and competent crew, failing to properly supervise the job being performed, and failing to properly train the crew for the job being performed.

The plaintiff is seeking more than $1.2 million in damages for loss of wages, impaired
earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, attorney's fees, costs, interest and punitive damages.

Brent is represented by Evette E. Ungar, George W. Byrne, Jr. and Cheryl L. Wild of Ungar & Byrne in New Orleans.

U.S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-02306