Frank Taylor, a former employee of Premier Offshore Catering, Inc., has filed a lawsuit against W&T Offshore, Inc. following a harrowing incident that left him with severe injuries. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 29, 2024. Taylor accuses W&T Offshore, Inc., a Texas corporation operating in Louisiana, of negligence that led to his injuries while working on an offshore oil and gas production facility.
The incident occurred on February 21, 2024, when Taylor was working as a Day Chief aboard an offshore platform owned by W&T Offshore, Inc., located near High Island, Block 299. A fire erupted during construction work performed by the defendant's contractors. As Taylor attempted to combat the blaze using the platform’s fire hose, he discovered it was unserviceable due to a stuck reel. This malfunction forced him and another contractor to exert significant effort to release the hose and approach the fire adequately. In his efforts to manage the emergency situation, Taylor slipped on the platform stairs and sustained multiple injuries.
Taylor alleges that W&T Offshore's negligence was twofold: first, in allowing hot work in unsafe conditions which sparked the fire; second, in failing to maintain critical safety equipment like the fire hose reel. He claims these oversights directly contributed to his injuries. The complaint states that "the defendant failed to keep the hose and reel in a reasonably serviceable condition," creating hazardous conditions for workers during emergencies.
The injuries sustained by Taylor are extensive and debilitating. He reports severe damage to his left shoulder and knee among other physical and mental impairments that render him unable to continue his duties as an able-bodied Day Chief or any job requiring heavy manual labor. As a result of these injuries, Taylor has already undergone shoulder surgery and may require further medical procedures.
Taylor is seeking compensation for his pain and suffering, loss of income due to inability to work, medical expenses incurred from surgeries, and future damages related to ongoing physical and mental anguish. His legal representation requests a jury trial for all issues presented in this case.
Representing Frank Taylor is Stephen J. Johnson from Morris Bart LLC based in New Orleans. The case is presided over by unnamed judges under Case ID 2:24-cv-02568.