NEW ORLEANS — A St. Tammany Parish couple is suing utility companies, alleging their negligence produced an unsafe work environment where the husband was injured.
George and Dedra Hayes filed a lawsuit July 18 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Island Operating Company Inc. and Walter Oil and Gas Corporation, alleging negligence in failing to properly manage their facility.
According to the complaint, on July 18, 2015, while George Hayes was performing crane repair and maintenance on the South Timbalier 311 platform on the continental shelf off the Louisiana coast, a crane block, violently and without warning, fell on his left ankle and leg.
The suit says this caused Hayes to sustain injuries that led to loss of wages and future earning capacity, medical expenses, physical and mental pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life.
The lawsuit states Dedra Hayes has suffered loss of consortium, services and society of her husband.
The plaintiffs allege the defendants failed to properly operate, manage and control the platform and its appurtenances, including cranes, upon which the defendant was working at the time of the incident.
George and Dedra Hayes seek a trial by jury, reasonable damages, legal interest, court costs and all other relief deemed appropriate. They are represented by attorney Glenn Lieberman of Morris Bart LLC in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 16-cv-12909