Gangway collapses, worker falls into water, suit says

NEW ORLEANS - A Jefferson Parish seaman is suing his employer claiming that negligence caused him to fall from an unsecured gangway and into the water.

David Burgo filed suit against JHM Marine Rentals on April 17 in federal court in New Orleans.

Burgo states that he was injured on Sept. 26, 2011 when he fell from an unsecured gangway, which consisted of a ladder and pieces of boards. He fell into the water and the boards hit him, the suit claims.

The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to provide Burgo with a safe place to work, failing to warn Burgo of the dangerous and unsafe conditions of the vessel, failing to provide him with proper equipment or personnel to safely accomplish his job, failing to provide competent and adequate supervisory authority, for hiring untrained and unskilled employees and for retaining employees found to be careless and unskilled, failing to properly man the vessel, and for failing to provide prompt and urgent medical care.

The plaintiff is asking the court for an award of damages for medical expenses, aches, pains, mental anguish, disability, maintenance and cure, interest, attorney's fees and court costs.

Burgo is represented by Lawrence Blake Jones, David C. Whitmore, and Julie Sumrall of Scheuermann & Jones in New Orleans.

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

Case No. 2:12-cv-00972