LAKE CHARLES — A marine transport company is suing Devall Towing & Boat Service Inc., Devall Towing & Boat Service of HackBerry LLC and Florida Marine Transporters LLC, towing boat barge owners, citing alleged insufficient measures were taken to prevent damages.
D&S Marine Services LLP filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Lake Charles Division against the defendants alleging that defendant Devall failed to properly moor and secure the FMT 3180 and 3182.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, on Oct. 31, 2015, the plaintiff had in its tow the Kirby barge 28134 when suddenly and without warning the defendant's FMT 3180 and 3182, which was secured to the defendants' Devall East Fleet, began to rotate outward into the channel striking the starboard side of the plaintiff's Kirby barge 28134. As a result, the plaintiff's Kirby barge 28134 sustained extensive damage. The plaintiff holds Devall Towing & Boat Service Inc., Devall Towing & Boat Service of HackBerry LLC and Florida Marine Transporters LLC responsible because defendant Florida Marine allegedly failed to man its vessel with a competent personnel and failed to maintain careful lookout.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against the defendants for all damages in an amount sufficient to justly compensate plaintiff's loss plus interest, costs and disbursements. It is represented by Christopher H. Riviere, Williams N. Abel and Todd M. Magee, a professional law corporation, in Thibodaux.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-01516