NEW ORLEANS - A deckhand on an oil clean-up services crew has filed a lawsuit claiming he suffered injuries when his boat struck a sandbar and he was thrown to the front of the boat.
Skylar Theriot filed suit against Team Labor Force, Environmental Safety and Health Consulting Services, and O’Brien’s Response Management Inc. on Nov. 27 in federal court in New Orleans.
The alleged incident occurred on Nov. 28, 2011 as Theriot was making his daily voyage aboard the M/S Captain Bruce en route to his assigned clean-up destination. The vessel struck a sandbar and Theriot was thrown to the front of the boat and hit the front of the boat, the suit claims. He claims he suffered injuries his injuries to his head, neck, back and knee.
The defendants are accused of negligence for failing to provide Theriot with a safe place to work, failing to prudently operate the vessel, failing to keep a proper lookout, operating the vessel while inattentive or distracted, failing to see what should have been seen or do what should have been done in order to prevent the accident, operating the vessel in a wanton and reckless manner with no regards for the rights and safety of others, failing to maintain proper control of the vessel, failing to maintain a safe distance from the sandbar, and for failing to properly supervise the task being performed.
The plaintiff is seeking an award of damages for medical expenses, mental anguish, loss of income, interest, and court costs.
Theriot is represented by Conrad S.P. Williams, III and J. Christopher Zainey Jr. of Williams Law Group in Houma and J.P. D’Albor of Haik, Minvielle & Grubbs in New Iberia.
U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:12-cv-02831
Deckhand files lawsuit after vessel strikes sandbar
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