Boat worker sues after being struck on head with bag of dirty laundry

GRETNA – A St. Tammany Parish man is suing a staffing company after one of its employees allegedly threw a sack of dirty laundry from the top deck of a ship onto his head when he was on the lower deck.

Dale Warmack filed suit against Direct Workforce Inc., Lexington Insurance Co. and Cory Martin in the 24th Judicial District Court on Jan. 13.

Warmack claims he was descending the gangplank of the M/V Mississippi Queen, moored at the Parish Street wharf in New Orleans, when he was struck on the head by a 60-pound bag of soiled linens. The plaintiff alleges he suffered severe injuries in the incident to his back and neck. Warmack asserts the bag of linens was thrown from the upper deck of the ship by Cory Martin.

Defendant Martin is accused of throwing a large bag of linens off the upper deck of the ship, not determining if anyone was in the path of the falling bag, throwing the bag without warning, throwing the bag without permission and in derogation of safe work practices, violating multiple workplace safety rules, failing to see what should have been seen, failing to engage in safe work practices and failing to find another way to lower the linens to the lower deck.

Defendant Direct Workforce is accused of failing to adequately train its employees in safe work practice, failing to adequately supervise employees and negligent hiring of employees.

Damages in excess of $50,000 are sought for pain and suffering, mental anguish and distress, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life and lost wages.

Martin is represented by G. Brice Jones of Slidell-based Jones LaGarde.

The case has been assigned to Division P Judge Lee V. Faulkner Jr.

Case no. 722-831.