The United States government has filed a lawsuit against several maritime companies, alleging negligence and seeking damages for damage to a navigational structure. The complaint was filed by the United States of America in the Western District of Louisiana on October 11, 2024, targeting Deloach Marine Services, L.L.C., M/V CPA LLC, Ingram Barge Company, LLC, and Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on March 7, 2022, when the M/V City of Port Allen towing a six-barge flotilla lost control and collided with the northeast long timber guide wall of the Calcasieu Lock on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The United States Army Corps of Engineers operates this navigation structure. The lawsuit claims that this allision resulted from negligence by Deloach Marine Services and other involved parties. Specifically, it accuses them of failing to exercise reasonable care in operating and navigating the vessel, maintaining a proper lookout, and ensuring the seaworthiness of their vessels.
The complaint also alleges violations under the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA), which protects public works built for preserving navigable waters in the U.S. The act holds operators like Deloach Marine Services strictly liable for damages caused to such structures. As per legal documents submitted by Kalynn E. Hughes and Emma Hildebrand from the Department of Justice's Civil Division Torts Branch, "the cost of repairing damage to Calcasieu Lock’s northeast long timber guide wall totals approximately $402,974.82."
In its filing, the United States seeks a judgment against all defendants for damages amounting to $402,974.82 plus interest and costs associated with repairing Calcasieu Lock's damaged structure. It also requests any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing this case are attorneys Kalynn E. Hughes and Emma Hildebrand from Washington D.C., while Brandon Bonaparte Brown serves as U.S Attorney overseeing proceedings locally within Louisiana's jurisdictional boundaries under Case ID: 2:24-cv-01395.