Former ship captain allegedly injured on the job claims vessel was unseaworthy

NEW ORLEANS— A former captain and master mariner claims that he was injured walking down a slippery flight of stairs.

George L. Vamprine filed suit against the State of Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Oct. 4.

The plaintiff’s petition for damages describes how in January he allegedly suffered injuries when he slipped down oily or wet stairs while working as captain on the M/V St. John. He claims he was permanently disabled as a result of the fall, damaging his cervical and lumbar spine, shoulders and extremities.

The Department of Transportation and Development is accused of negligence for failure to properly inspect, clean, maintain, warn, and supervise its employees to prevent the unsafe and alleged unseaworthiness of its vessel that permitted the hazardous condition to occur. The defendant is alleged to have failed or refused to pay benefits to the plaintiff in an arbitrary and capricious manner.

An undisclosed amount in damages is sought for permanent disability maintenance at $50 per day, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of wage and earning capacity and medical expenses.

Vamprine is represented by John G. Munoz of Garner & Munoz and Robert H. Cooper of the Law Office of Robert H. Cooper.

The case has been assigned to Division A Judge Tiffany G. Chase.

Case no. 2013-09432.