A seaman has filed suit against his employer following a recent accident which he claims left him permanently disabled.
Kenric Howard sued Seadrill Americas Inc. in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana on July 2 alleging general negligence in an unspecified accident last month.
The suit states that Howard, hired as a roustabout and assigned to a deepwater semi-submersible drilling vessel, was hurt on or about June 15, 2015, when he allegedly sustained severe injuries to his lower back, right ankle and left knee.
The plaintiff claims that the defendant failed to provide him with a safe place to work, give him proper and appropriate warnings, and plan the ongoing operation adequately. Howard argues that the vessel, the West Capricorn, was unseaworthy, in particular its riser bay decking and grating.
According to the suit, the seaman was in the service of the vessel at the time of his purported injury, entitling him to receive maintenance and cure benefits. The exact nature of the accident was not described in the lawsuit.
Howard claims severe and disabling physical and mental injuries and seeks monetary damages for past and future physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional anguish, loss of wages, benefits and enjoyment of life, permanent disability, and medical expenses.
Requesting $4 million plus pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney’s fees, expenses, and court costs, Howard is represented by Berney Strauss, Rhett King, Clinton Mead and Sarah Lowman of Strauss & King in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana Case 2:15-cv-02441-MLCF-KWR