NEW ORLEANS - After falling in an open engine room hatch, an oil clean-up worker has filed a lawsuit against her employer for failing to warn that she could have an accident.
Tina A. Givens filed suit against E S&H Inc. and Team Labor Force Inc. on March 14 in federal court in New Orleans.
The alleged incident occurred on March 24, 2011 as Givens was working as an oil clean-up worker for Team Labor Force. She states that she was injured while standing near the closed engine room hatch and a worker opened the hatch without warning, allowing her to fall into the open hatch.
Givens claims she suffered severe and debilitating injuries due to the fall.
The defendants are accused of negligence for failing to properly train their employees, failing to provide proper supervision, failing to warn Givens of the impending accident, negligent operation of the vessel, failing to properly secure equipment, failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to discover a hazardous condition, and for failing to provide a safe work environment.
The plaintiff is asking the court for an award of damages for physical and mental pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, psychological trauma, loss of wages and benefits, impairment of earning capacity, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of insurability, disability, interest and court costs.
Givens is represented by New Orleans attorneys V. Jacob Garbin, William S. Vincent Jr. and W. Jared Vincent. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:12-cv-00690
Oil clean-up worker sues after falling in vessel's open hatch
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