NEW ORLEANS – A certified marine life diver alleges he was injured because of the dispersants used in the Deepwater Horizon cleanup.
Michael Helmholtz filed a complaint on April 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP America Production Co. and BP PLC alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff is the owner of a business that harvests live marine life for wholesale to pet stores and was exposed to oil and dispersants. The plaintiff alleges that, as a result of direct contact from the dispersants used in the cleanup of the Deepwater Horizon spill, the plaintiff has suffered chemical burns to his skin, lungs and eyes, nose bleeds, rashes and skin irritation, headaches, blurry of vision, burning eyes, breathing and respiratory difficulties. He alleges he has been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and due to the inability to work, he has suffered lost income, revenue and profits.
The plaintiff holds BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP America Production Co. and BP PLC responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to exercise reasonable care in the operation, maintenance, handling, implementation and execution of the relief and recovery measures.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory damages, medical monitoring, interest, attorneys’ fees and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems just and appropriate. He is represented by Frank M. Petosa of Morgan & Morgan Complex Litigation Group in Plantation, Florida.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:17-cv-02932