Southern Recycling, Southern Scrap sued over welder's crushed ankle

NEW ORLEANS – A welder residing in Lafourche Parish is suing a recycling and scrap yard for their alleged role in an ankle injury he claims to have sustained while working on the premises.

Jonathan Michael Thibodaux filed suit against Southern Recycling LLC and Southern Scrap Recycling Morgan City LLC in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on May 19.

Thibodaux claims that on May 23, 2013, he was a welder and employee at Custom Fab of Louisiana, LLC. On that date, he asserts that he was directed to weld a broken gate hinge at the Southern Recycling/Southern Scrap yard in Morgan City.

Upon arriving at the yard, Thibodaux alleges that he was instructed to attach a hook from a cherry picker onto the gate so that it could be lifted for welding. When Thibodaux stepped onto the gate, he alleges that the bottom hinge snapped, causing the cyclone fencing to fall and crush his left ankle.

The plaintiff alleges that Southern Recycling/Southern Scrap contacted Thibodaux's employer rather than calling for an ambulance. According to the suit, Thibodaux's supervisor arrived at the scrap yard then brought him to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center for medical attention.

Thibodaux contends that he underwent surgery to repair his left ankle, which included the installation of a plate to stabilize the ankle. Following the procedure, the plaintiff asserts that he required crutches for three months and was unable to work for six months.

The defendants are accused of failure to provide a safe environment, failure to provide necessary equipment, failure to provide alternative ways of performing the work in a safe manner, and instruction to perform work in an unreasonable manner.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and wage loss, in addition to scarring and disfigurement.

Jonathan Thibodaux is represented by Matthew F. Block of Block Law Firm APLC.

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

Case no. 2014-04933.