Roustabout sues after being knocked down by pressurized hose

NEW ORLEANS - A roustabout has filed a lawsuit against Ensco after allegedly suffering disabling injuries when a pressurized hose knocked him onto the deck of an oil platform.

Brandon Sims filed suit against Baker Hughes and Ensco Offshore Co. on Feb. 14 in federal court in New Orleans.

The incident occurred on Dec. 22, 2011 while Sims was employed as a roustabout by Ensco Offshore. Sims states that he was attempting to perform his assigned duties when he suffered injuries due to a pressurized hose coming loose and throwing Sims backward on the deck.

The defendants are accused of negligence for failing to provide Sims with a safe place to work, failing to adequately supervise the task being performed, failing to warn of the pressure in the house being handled by Sims, and for failing to clear the hose of pressure before Sims handled the hose.

The plaintiff is asking the court for more than $1.5 million in damages for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, maintenance and cure, interest, attorney's fees and court costs.

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

U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:12-cv-00421