deGravelles
A vessel's chief mate has filed a lawsuit against his employer that claims he suffered a disabling back injury while grocery shopping because of a lack of manpower and a lack of proper equipment.
Henry William Gamp filed suit against Penn Maritime Inc. and ABC Insurance Co. on Dec. 3 in federal court in New Orleans.
The alleged incident occurred on April 13, 2011 as Gamp was acting as the chief mate and crewmember of the articulated tug barge Lucia/Caribbean, which was in the waters of the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish. Gamp was ordered to leave his vessel and go into LaPlace to pick up groceries and supplies for the vessel. While loading the groceries, he injured his back. The alleged injury has resulted in surgery and Gamp claims he is now permanently disabled.
The defendant is accused of negligence for not providing sufficient manpower to do his job safely and failing to provide adequate equipment and crew to do the job safely.
The plaintiff is asking the Court for an award of damages for lost wages, impaired earning capacity, medical expenses, physical injury and disability, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and distress, loss of found, loss of employment of life, interest, and court costs.
Gamp is represented by John W. deGravelles and Stephanie B. Hulett of deGravelles, Palmintier, Holthaus & Fruge in Baton Rouge.
U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:12-cv-00004