NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana man is suing the owner of a ship, alleging its negligence led to the plaintiff suffering injuries.
Van Fortune filed a lawsuit Aug. 3 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Galliano Marine Service LLC, alleging violation of the General Maritime Law in failure to protect, negligence and in providing an unsafe work environment.
According to the complaint, on March 29, Fortune was assigned to M/V Bushbuck in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Houma. While working, Fortune suffered severe injuries to his lower back, the suit says, causing permanent disability, mental and emotional pain and suffering, lost wages and loss of enjoyment of life.
The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to provide safe place to work, failed to give proper and appropriate warnings, failed to adequately plan the operation and failed to provide the necessary equipment and/or manpower to do the job safely.
Fortune seeks trial by jury, judgment of $4.5 million, plus interest, costs of court and all relief the court deems just and appropriate. He is represented by attorneys Berney L. Strauss, Rhett E. King and Clinton G. Mead of Strauss and King, APLC in New Orleans, and by John W. Redmann and Richard L. Root of Law Office of John W. Redmann LLC in Gretna.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-13548