Son and daughters sue firms for father’s fatal accident

Four adult children brought a lawsuit against their father’s employer and a second company for alleged negligence in his 2014 death.

Alicia Dantin Jernigan filed individually and on behalf of the estate of Eno Joseph Dantin Jr., along with siblings Natasha Dantin Wells, Erika McClure and Eric Dantin, against Dune Energy Inc. of Houston and Island Operating Co. Inc. (IOC) of Scott, Lafayette Parish, on April 13 in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana, citing gross negligence in an April 2014 accident.

Plaintiffs Alicia Dantin Jernigan and Natasha Dantin Wells of Vernon Parish, La.; and Erika McClure and Eric Dantin of Tennessee, all are surviving adult children of decedent Eno Joseph Dantin Jr.

According to the lawsuit, Eno Joseph Dantin Jr. was employed as a rig platform supervisor in offshore Louisiana territorial waters in Plaqumines Parish. While traveling as a passenger in a crew boat owned and/or operated by Dune, the boat collided with a vessel piloted by an IOC employee or about April 13, 2014, the lawsuit states. The impact allegedly threw the decedent out of the boat; he sustained blunt trauma injuries and eventually died, according to court documents.

Citing the defendants with negligence, the plaintiffs allege failure to operate the vessels safely with competent captains. Claiming past and future mental anguish; loss of consortium and inheritance; funeral and burial expenses; and pain, suffering and lost wages on their father’s part, they seek actual and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney’s fees, expenses and costs.

The plaintiffs are represented by Walter Naquin Jr. and Marcus Spagnoletti of Spagnoletti and Co. in Thibodaux.

U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana case no. 2:15-cv-01171-LMA-KWR.