NEW ORLEANS – The owner and operator of a fishing vessel is seeking damages after another vessel allegedly collided against him.
Anthony Buffinet filed a lawsuit on March 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Dale Martin Offshore LLC over allegations of negligence.
Buffinet alleges that on or about May 25, 2013, he was on the vessel Cry Baby while moored at dock in Leeville when he was suddenly hit by the vessel DMO Resolve, which is owned and operated by the defendant. The plaintiff asserts that the collision was caused solely by the defendant when it negligently failed to maintain proper course and speed of its vessel, failed to take action to prevent the collision, failed to warn plaintiff of the impending collision, negligently operated its vessel, and other acts of negligence.
Buffinet claims that he was injured and his property was damaged in the collision. Such injuries, he alleges, has prevented him from performing his usual duties and rendered him disabled. He also asserts that he incurred financial loss and mental pain.
Buffinet is asking the court to award him an undisclosed amount of damages together with interest, attorney fees and all the costs of the court as well as any other relief deemed just. He is represented by Lawrence Blake Jones and Kristi A. Post of Scheuermann & Jones in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-02544-CJB-KWR