Bruno
NEW ORLEANS - An offshore lineman has filed a lawsuit against his employer that claims he suffered debilitating injuries to his wrist when the boat's wench started retrieving mooring line rather than paying out the line.
Wren Cordes filed suit against OSG Shipmanagement Ltd. on Sept. 6 in federal court in New Orleans.
The alleged incident occurred on Nov. 14, 2011 as Cordes was attempting to dock at the Eron Terminal at St. James Parish. He was receiving bow mooring line from the Overseas Yellowstone when the line became tangled causing the wench to retrieve the line rather than pay out the line, and thereby causing the shackle to weld and strike Cordes in the hand. Cordes states he suffered severe, debilitating, disfiguring, and permanent injuries to his wrist.
The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to pay attention to the morning line to ensure that it was paying out rather than being retrieved by the wench while attempting to dock, failing to have reasonable means of communications between the deck crew, and failing to adequately train its crew in safe docking procedures, including but not limited to paying attention to ensure that the line was paying out rather than retrieving.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, loss of earnings, loss of earnings capacity, medical expenses, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability, interest, and court courts.
Cordes is represented by New Orleans attorney Stephen P. Bruno.
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:12-cv-02214