NEW ORLEANS – A crew member for a shrimping vessel alleges he was injured on a trip.
John William Johnson filed a complaint on Dec. 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Howerin Travelers Inc. citing the Jones Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Sept. 16, 2016, he sustained severe, painful and permanently disabling injuries when the nets were raised too quickly, which forced him to exert excessive strain and force on his spine. His injuries allegedly caused him to suffer physical and mental pain, permanent disability and loss of wages. The plaintiff holds Howerin Travelers Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly negligently operated the vehicle at an excessive speed that created an unreasonable amount of strain on the net's cable.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory damages in an amount reasonable under the circumstances, plus costs and interest and all other additional equitable relief to which he may be entitled. He is represented by Paul M. Sterbcow and Ian F. Taylor of Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-16786