A maritime worker has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging negligence that led to a severe and permanently disabling injury. Christopher Sonnier lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on November 14, 2024, targeting Parker Towing Company as the defendant.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on October 29, 2023, when Sonnier was working aboard the M/V BECKY GARCIA, a vessel owned and operated by Parker Towing Company. Sonnier, employed as a seaman and tankerman earning $78,000 annually plus benefits, was tasked with traversing the Columbia Lock and Dam on the Ouachita River in Louisiana. The operation required breaking down a two-barge tow due to the narrow lock channel. During this process, a crucial tool known as a spike pole was left behind by a co-worker on another barge moored at the north side of the lock. This oversight forced Sonnier to attempt securing the barge manually without proper equipment.
As he struggled to complete his duties without the spike pole, Sonnier experienced an immediate and severe pain in his right shoulder after several failed attempts to secure the mooring line. The resulting injury was not only painful but also permanently disabling, necessitating medical treatment including surgery. Sonnier claims that this incident was due to Parker Towing Company's negligence in failing to provide him with a safe working environment and necessary tools.
Sonnier's lawsuit seeks compensatory damages under the Jones Act and general maritime law of the United States for various losses incurred due to his injury. These include compensation for past, present, and future physical and mental suffering; permanent physical disability; medical expenses; loss of wages and earning capacity; and loss of fringe benefits. He also requests all taxable costs and interest permissible by law.
Representing Christopher Sonnier are attorneys Paul M. Sterbcow from Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson LLC based in New Orleans, Louisiana, along with Leo J. Palazzo from The Palazzo Law Firm located in Gretna, Louisiana. The case is identified under Case ID 2:24-cv-02680.