Seamen’s alleged injury results in suit against Transocean

NEW ORLEANS – A seaman working aboard an oil rig filed suit against his employer after injuring his foot while aboard a vessel.

Travis Martin filed suit against Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc. in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Sept. 23.

The suit states that on June 10, 2013, the plaintiff, who was employed by Transocean and working aboard one of its vessels, experienced an accident, which resulted in injuries to his right foot.

The defendant is accused of breaching its legally imposed duty of reasonable care, failing to provide a safe place to work, failing to properly train and supervise the plaintiff, creating and maintaining an unseaworthy vessel and being otherwise negligent.

The plaintiff seeks an unspecified amount in damages for physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional pain and suffering, lost wages, physical disability and medical expenses.

In addition, the plaintiff alleges a claim for punitive damages in regard to the lack and refusal of medical treatment following his injury. The medic aboard the rig provided him with ice and ibuprofen, but an officer of the rig instructed the medic not to give him such medical treatment in order to avoid a “lost time accident.” The plaintiff alleges that these actions were arbitrary and callous, and warrant punitive damages for the unjustified denial of medical treatment immediately following his injury.

The plaintiff is represented by Timothy J. Young of The Young Firm of New Orleans.

The case has been assigned to Division I Judge Piper D. Griffin.

Case no. 2013-09013.