NEW ORLEANS – The owners of bulk carrier and a containership are seeking damages after the vessels were allegedly damaged by other barges.
M/V Q Jake Shipping LTD and M/V Serena P filed a complaint on Dec. 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against United Bulk Terminals Davant LLC and Marquette Transportation Co. Gulf-Inland LLC, et al. alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on Jan. 20, 2016, multiple barges and groups of barges broke away from defendant UBT's facility and drifted directly into the path of plaintiff vessels. As a result, the suit states plaintiff M/V Q Jake sustained damages totaling $1,529,553.86 and the plaintiff M/V Serena P sustained damages totaling $541,713.99.
The plaintiffs holds United Bulk Terminals Davant LLC and Marquette Transportation C. Gulf-Inland LLC, et al. responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to exercise the necessary caution required by the circumstances and refused to compensate plaintiffs for their damages.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendants together with an award for plaintiffs’ damages, plus interest, attorneys’ fees and costs; and for all just and equitable relief to which they may be entitled. They are represented by Daniel A. Tadros, Thomas D. Forbes and Laura B. Knoll of Chaffe McCall LLP in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-17745