NEW ORLEANS – A Texas man alleges he needed surgery to treat a broken ankle that was caused by the slippery conditions of a dock.
Nelson Zane Westmoreland filed a complaint on June 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Venice Marine and Outdoor Consultants Inc., also known as Venice Marina Inc., Triple Tail Charters and Capt. Blake Rigby alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on July 23, 2016, he was a patron aboard a charter fishing vessel owned and operated by defendants Triple Tail and Capt. Rigby. As he was attempting to disembark the vessel, the suit states that the plaintiff's feet slipped out from under him, causing traumatic and severe break of the right ankle that required multiple surgical procedures.
The plaintiff holds Venice Marine and Outdoor Consultants Inc., Triple Tail Charters and Rigby responsible because the defendants allegedly failed provide a safe means of disembarkation and failed to warn plaintiff of the dangerous or unsafe conditions of the dock.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks monetary damages in an amount as are reasonable under the premises, plus interest, costs of these proceedings and all other equitable and just relief. He is represented by Joseph F. Gaar Jr., Jason M. Welborn, Lucas S. Colligan and Jacob H. Hargett of Joseph F. Gaar Jr. APLC in Lafayette.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:17-cv-06220