Tug boat operator sued for injuries man claims to have received in accident

DONALDSONVILE – An East Baton Rouge man has sued a transportation company for injuries he claimed occurred in an accident on the water.

Hardy Williams filed suit on March 6 in the 23rd Judicial District Civil Court against Amercian Transportation Company. Williams claims he was working as a stevedore on a barge that was hit by a loaded tug boat named M/V Viking Queen and owned by American Transportation Company.

The plaintiff alleges the accident caused the barge's lines to snap which resulted in it recklessly floating down the Mississippi River. During the ordeal, Williams claims he was thrown about the wildly spinning vessel as it struck other barges on its way down the river before ultimately stopping when it struck a buoy.

The plaintiff asserts he received disabling injuries from the incident including to his lower back, neck, left shoulder, left knee, right hand and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The defendant is accused of failing to act reasonably under the circumstances, failing to navigate the vessel in a reasonable manner, failing to maintain control of vessel, failing to properly train and supervise employees, failing to warn of hazard and breach of legally imposed duty.

Williams is being represented by Baton Rouge-based attorney Ted Williams.

The case has been assigned to Division E Judge Alvin Turner, Jr.

Case number 103006