Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s lawyers pride themselves on the ability to handle and win complex admiralty and maritime law matters for workers that are injured offshore. Recently, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP was retained to file suit against McDermott International, Inc., J.Ray McDermott, S.A., J. Ray McDermott, Inc., and McDermott, Inc. under the Jones Act and the maritime law cause of action for unseaworthiness.
The suit arises from McDermott’s negligence under the Jones Act and the unseaworthiness of its vessels, including the DB-27, a Heavy Lift, S Lay Derrick Barge, and its crew, directly contributing to serious injuries to Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client on or about August 20, 2018. On or about that date, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client, who is protected by maritime law as a Jones Act seaman, was employed as a Crane Operator aboard the DB-27, an offshore Heavy Lift, S Lay Derrick Barge owned and operated by the McDermott. The suit alleges that McDermott failed its duty to Plaintiff by not providing a vessel and its appurtenances suitable for its intended use, including failing to properly maintain the interior starboard stairwell. As a result, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client suffered injury, including to his back, shoulder and arm necessitating surgery and rendering him unable to resume work when he fell while descending an interior starboard stairwell on the DB-27.
Maritime and admiralty law protect seaman, like Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client. For example, the Jones Act requires an offshore employer to provide a reasonably safe place to work, with proper safety equipment, training, and well-maintained walkways and stairways. Similarly, maritime law requires a vessel owner to provide a seaworthy vessel. This means that the vessel must have adequately maintained equipment, a competent crew, and clean and well-maintained walkways and stairways. The duty to provide a seaworthy vessel is non-delegable by a ship owner under maritime and admiralty law. As such, the suit alleges that McDermott violated both general maritime law (duty of seaworthiness) and the Jones Act.
Under the Jones Act and cause of action for unseaworthiness, this injured seaman is entitled to seek damages for his injured back, shoulder, and arm, including maintenance and cure, medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning capacity, physical impairment, and disfigurement. The suit seeks each of these types of damages, as allowed by maritime and admiralty law.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury while working offshore or on a vessel of any kind, including a lift boat, jack-up, drill ship, tug boat, barge, or other ship, you may have the right to seek compensation under the Jones Act, Longshore Harbor Workers Compensation Act, general maritime law, or admiralty law. The lawyers at Doyle Dennis Avery LLP can assist you in evaluating your potential claims at no cost to you.
