LAFAYETTE — A torque technician is suing the owners and operators of a maritime rig, alleging their negligence caused him severe injuries.
Kalob Lafosse of Acadia Parish filed a lawsuit March 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and Magnolia Torque & Testing Inc., alleging violations general maritime law, specifically including the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.
According to the complaint, Lafosse was employed as a torque technician by Magnolia Torque & Testing Inc., assigned to perform the services upon the Neesen Rig owned and operated by Anadarko in the Gulf of Mexico.
On March 21, 2015, the suit says, Lafosse was attempting to break out a 2-inch bolt with a pneumatic impact unit when the socket dislodged from the flange bolt, striking Lafosse in the face and knocking him off his work platform. The lawsuit says the plaintiff suffered facial lacerations, a concussion and dental trauma as a result of the accident.
Lafosse alleges the person in charge of Anadarko knew or should have known the task undertaken by the plaintiff required a hydraulic unit to remove the 2-inch bolt from the flange and that the unit was tagged for repair due to a faulty emergency kill system.
The plaintiff alleges his injuries incurred from the accident were a direct result of the defendants’ negligence and failure to prevent a hazardous work environment on the Neesen Rig.
Lafosse seeks compensatory damages, past, present and future medical expenses, punitive damages, attorney fees, costs and a trial by jury. He is represented by attorney Andre P. LaPlace in Baton Rouge.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Case number 6:16-cv-00364-RFD-PJH