Cook falls while barbecuing; sues employer for not having adequate supervision

An offshore cook has filed a lawsuit against his employer which claims that he is disabled after he fell while attempting to go outdoors to barbeque.

William L. Cormier filed suit against Blue Marlin Support Services, CDI Vessel Holdings, Cal Dive HR Services, Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc. and Cal Dive International Inc. on Dec. 28 in federal court in New Orleans.

The incident occurred while Cormier was working as a crewmember and cook for the M/V Brave. He claims hat on April 26, 2011, he suffered disabling injuries when he fell while going outdoors in order to barbeque.

Cormier accuses the defendants of negligence for failing to provide a safe place to work, failing to provide proper equipment and personnel to accomplish the job in a reasonably safe manner, failing to warn and for failing to discover and correct any unsafe conditions on the vessel.

The defendants are also accused of failing to properly man the vessel, hiring untrained and unskilled employees, for retaining careless and unskilled employees, for failing to provide adequate and competent supervisory authority, and for failing to provide adequate medical care.

Cormier is seeking an award of damages for medical expenses, aches, pains, mental anguish, disability from usual duties and work, maintenance and cure, punitive damages, interest, attorney's fees and court costs.

The plaintiff is represented by Kristi A. Post and Lawrence Blake Jones of Scheuerman & Jones in New Orleans.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-03170