Life-Threatening Medical Negligence at Sea: Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Files Jones Act Lawsuit Against Rec Marine Logistics
Protecting the Rights of Injured Maritime Workers
Doyle Dennis Avery LLP has filed a lawsuit against Rec Marine Logistics, LLC on behalf of their client, a seaman who suffered severe and permanent heart damage due to the company’s failure to provide timely medical care. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana, alleges negligence, unseaworthiness, and failure to provide maintenance and cure under the Jones Act and general maritime law.
This case highlights the obligation of vessel operators to respond appropriately to medical emergencies at sea. When crew members fall ill in offshore locations, the actions taken by employers in those first critical hours can mean the difference between recovery and permanent disability.
The Maritime Medical Emergency
The Heart Attack and Delayed Response
On January 27, 2024, the client was serving as a crew member aboard the vessel GOL WARRIOR when he began experiencing severe chest pain—a classic symptom of a heart attack. After initially reporting his symptoms to the vessel’s captain in the morning, he was advised to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. While the pain temporarily subsided, it returned with even greater severity by the afternoon.
Despite the client’s worsening condition, Rec Marine allegedly failed to take immediate action to ensure he received emergency medical attention for his ongoing heart attack. Instead of arranging for a helicopter or medivac—the standard of care for offshore medical emergencies—the lawsuit alleges a series of critical delays occurred:
- The client was first transported to an offshore platform rather than immediately evacuated.
- He was then placed on another vessel for a four-to-five-hour journey back to shore—without any professional medical care.
- Upon arrival, he was not met by an ambulance but driven in a company truck to a local medical facility not fully equipped for his condition.
- He was then transferred again to a local hospital, where he was finally treated.
The lawsuit contends that these delays resulted in irreparable heart damage that could have been minimized or potentially avoided with prompt medical intervention. Medical research consistently shows that during a heart attack, “time is muscle”—faster treatment leads to better outcomes and less permanent damage.
For more information on similar cases, visit our Maritime Injury Claims page.
Rec Marine’s Alleged Negligence
Specific Allegations in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit alleges that Rec Marine failed in multiple aspects of its duty, citing:
- Evacuation Protocol Failures: Negligence in failing to promptly evacuate the client for emergency medical care despite clear symptoms of a heart attack.
- Inadequate Medical Preparedness: Failure to have proper procedures, medical equipment, and trained personnel onboard.
- Improper Medical Decision-Making: Poor judgment in handling a suspected cardiac event, including the decision to transport by vessel rather than helicopter.
Maintenance and Cure Violations
Under maritime law, employers must provide injured or ill seamen with maintenance (daily living expenses) and cure (medical care) until they reach maximum medical improvement. The lawsuit asserts that Rec Marine willfully and unreasonably denied these legally mandated benefits, potentially worsening the client’s condition and recovery prospects.
These allegations could support not only compensatory damages but also punitive damages, which courts have held may be available in cases of willful disregard of maintenance and cure obligations.
Maritime Medical Emergency Standards
Proper Response Protocols
Maritime employers operating vessels offshore have specific responsibilities for medical emergencies:
- Immediate Evacuation Options: Access to helicopter or fast vessel transport.
- Medical Communication Systems: Radio or satellite communication with onshore medical experts.
- Appropriate Medical Equipment: Emergency medical equipment onboard, including AEDs for cardiac events.
For suspected heart attacks specifically, industry standards typically call for rapid recognition, emergency communication, and the fastest available transport—usually helicopter evacuation.
The lawsuit suggests that Rec Marine failed to meet these industry standards, resulting in a delayed chain of care that allegedly caused permanent cardiac damage.
The Impact of Delayed Cardiac Care
Medical Consequences
Cardiologists emphasize that in heart attack cases, “time is muscle”—heart muscle dies progressively during a heart attack, and the extent of permanent damage directly correlates with treatment delay:
- Golden Hour: The first hour after symptom onset is critical for intervention.
- Progressive Damage: For every 30-minute delay, the risk of mortality increases significantly.
As a result of the alleged delays, the client has suffered severe and permanent heart damage that will affect him for the rest of his life, potentially leading to:
- Reduced cardiac function
- Risk of heart failure requiring lifelong medication
- Activity limitations
- Shortened life expectancy
- Ongoing symptoms including fatigue and shortness of breath
The client seeks compensation for pain and suffering, permanent heart damage, lost wages, and ongoing medical expenses resulting from Rec Marine’s alleged failure to provide proper care.
Jones Act and Maritime Law Protections
Legal Framework for Medical Emergencies
Maritime workers are protected by specific federal laws designed to address the unique hazards of working at sea:
- Jones Act Provisions: Vessel operators must exercise reasonable care to provide appropriate medical response.
- Maintenance and Cure Obligation: Employers must provide appropriate medical care until maximum medical improvement, regardless of fault.
The lawsuit alleges that Rec Marine violated both its Jones Act and maintenance and cure obligations, potentially exposing the company to significant liability.
For more detailed information on legal protections, check our Jones Act Claims section.
Protecting Your Rights During Maritime Medical Emergencies
Critical Steps for Offshore Workers
If you experience a medical emergency while working offshore:
- Report Symptoms Immediately: Notify your supervisor or captain as soon as possible.
- Be Clear and Specific: Describe your symptoms clearly, especially for potentially serious conditions.
- Request Emergency Evacuation: If symptoms are severe, specifically request emergency evacuation.
- Seek Independent Medical Evaluation: Once ashore, see your own doctor for a thorough evaluation.
All maritime workers should be familiar with heart attack symptoms, which include chest pain or pressure, pain radiating to the arm or jaw, shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweats, and lightheadedness.
Call to Action
This case highlights the critical importance of proper medical response procedures in offshore environments. If you or a loved one has suffered a medical emergency offshore and received inadequate care, it’s important to understand your legal rights.
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Top Trial Lawyer
If you’ve experienced maritime injury or lost a loved one due to offshore workplace negligence, the experienced team at Doyle Dennis Avery LLP is here to help:
- Free Consultation: Discuss your situation with knowledgeable maritime injury lawyers at no cost
- Case Evaluation: Receive an honest assessment of your legal options
- Comprehensive Representation: Work with attorneys who understand the unique aspects of maritime law
- Contingency Fee Structure: Pay legal fees only if we secure compensation for you
Our firm’s extensive experience with maritime injury and wrongful death cases positions us to effectively advocate for your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
