NEW ORLEANS — A Mississippi seaman is suing a vessel operator, alleging its negligence resulted in injuries to the plaintiff.
Randall Blair of Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, filed a lawsuit July 20 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Rodi Marine, LLC alleging negligence in failing to maintain a seaworthy vessel.
According to the complaint, on Sept. 10, 2015, while Blair was on board the defendant's M/V Miss Peggy Ann as a deckhand, the vessel ran aground on a mud bank. The suit says this caused Blair to be thrown from his bunk onto the floor of the cabin, leading to severe and debilitating injuries mentally and physically. He has suffered loss of wages and future earning capacity, medical expenses, permanent disability and loss of enjoyment of life, the lawsuit states.
The plaintiff alleges Rodi Marine failed to provide a safe place to work, failed to provide sufficient gear and safety equipment and failed to provide a competent crew to supervise Blair's activities.
Blair seeks a trial by jury, damages of $5.1 million, all legal costs, plus all general and equitable relief. He is represented by attorneys Hugh P. Lambert, Cayce C. Peterson, Jackie L. Smith and Morgan Embleton of The Lambert Firm PLC in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-13026