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LOUISIANA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Widow blames multiple maritime companies for husband's death

Cargo ship 03

NEW ORLEANS — A St. John the Baptist Parish woman is suing three maritime companies, alleging their negligence led to the drowning death of her husband.

Nayana Ambarish Parekh, individually and as personal representative of decedent, Ambarish Ramnikrai Parekh, filed a lawsuit Aug. 9 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Argonautica Shipping Investments BV of the Netherlands, Weber Marine Inc. of Convent, Louisiana, and Absolute Outdoor Inc. of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, alleging gross negligence in making no meaningful attempt to rescue her husband.

According to the complaint, on July 17, during his employment with Maritech Commercial Inc. as a ship captain, Ambarish Ramnikrai Parek was transported aboard the C/B Miss Rachel. As he was attempting to board the M/V African Rafter, the suit says, he fell into the Mississippi River and was seen struggling to swim and stay above water while awaiting rescue. 

The lawsuit says Parekh eventually was carried away and pulled underwater by the river current. At the time of the incident, he was wearing an inflatable personal flotation device manufactured by Absolute. On July 19, the suit says, his body was found by a passing tug boat on a bank of the Mississippi River wearing the failed personal flotation device. 

The plaintiff alleges Argonautica failed to ensure a safe means of ingress, Weber failed to provide with a safe means of egress and Absolute defectively manufactured the flotation device.

Nayana Parekh seeks a trial by jury, judgment to adequately compensate her for legal interest of all amounts, costs of suit and all relief to which she is entitled. She is represented by attorneys Paul M. Sterbcow and Beth E. Abramson of Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson in New Orleans.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-13731

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