Two Jefferson Parish residents are suing a towing company and the Port of New Orleans on claims of wrongful death after a barge and bridge accident killed their father.
Michael Collins Jr. and Lindsay Collins filed a civil action complaint Aug. 12 in the Eastern District of Louisiana against ABC Marine Towing LLC and Board of Commissioners Port of New Orleans, citing negligence.
The complaint states that on Aug. 13, 2014, around midnight, Michael Collins, serving as captain of the marine vessel Cory Michael, requested clearance for his spud barge through the Florida Avenue Bridge, owned and operated by Port of New Orleans, spanning the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal in Orleans Parish.
According to the complaint, the bridge was not raised to a sufficient height. As the barge passed under, the crane mast struck the bridge superstructure, causing the crane boom to fall and crush the Cory Michael's raised pilot house, killing Michael Collins inside.
The complaint alleges the accident was due to the negligence of Port of New Orleans and ABC Marine, which owned the Cory Michael.
As a result of the wrongful death of their father, Michael Collins Jr. and Lindsay Collins have suffered loss of consortium, society and financial support.
The plaintiffs seek damages to be determined by the court, plus attorney fees and court costs. They are represented by Brian D. Katz of Herman Herman & Katz, LLC in New Orleans.
Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-03415-SSV-KWR