LAFAYETTE – A Mandeville boat company that owns a vessel that was involved in an incident on the Ohio River is suing operator Riverwatch Inc., alleging it that it did not cause that company's barge to sink as claimed by Riverwatch.
Florida Marine LLC filed a lawsuit July 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Lafayette Division against Riverwatch, claiming there was no direct contact between the boat and the barge.
Florida Marine claimed in court documents that its Ty Dolese boat Ty was cruising the Ohio River on April 18 near mile marker 93 when Riverwatch’s barge, Tiki, crossed the boat’s path.
Attorney Anthony Staines
| Staines & Eppling
As stated in the complaint, Riverwatch argues that the Ty Dolese “caused the Tiki barge, which is owned by Riverwatch, to sink into the Ohio River.” Florida Marine responded that “there was no direct contact” between vessels, and any fault on the part of the company’s boat is “vehemently denied.”
The complaint also said the April 18 event “was not caused, either in whole or in part, by any fault, negligence or lack of due care on the part of complainant or any unseaworthy condition of the M/V Ty Dolese,” and that the “incident and the resulting damage, if any, occurred without the privity or knowledge of Florida Marine or any of its officers or managers.”
Florida Marine said it will provide more evidence that its boat did not cause the incident.
"Complainant reserves the right to amend and/or supplement this paragraph of its complaint to specify the fault and negligence of any other party when the facts surrounding the incident become more fully discovered, and to prove those facts at the trial of this cause," the complaint said.
Florida Marine is asking for $4,650,000 in damages, which it said in the lawsuit corresponds to the market value of the Ty Dolese, plus 6 percent interest.
Florida Marine is represented by Anthony Staines, Jason Kenney and Corey Parenton, of Staines & Eppling of Metairie. No judge has been assigned yet.