Maritime News

Rigger Files Jones Act Claim After Suffering Brain Injury

Posted on Mar 06, 2011

A rigger who suffered severe brain and spinal injuries is suing his employer for more than $3.5 million.

On February 25, 2011 Louisiana seaman Pascal Romano filed a Jones Act lawsuit against Gulf Coast Material Management Inc. and against ABC Insurance Company in federal court in New Orleans over injuries sustained in a September 1, 2010 accident.

At the time of the accident, Romano was working as a rigger aboard a crane barge for Gulf Coast Material Management, Inc. He was assisting the crane barge in unloading another barge when the load being lifted by the crane barge crushed Romano and left him with brain and spinal injuries.

Gulf Coast Material Management is accused of negligence for failing to provide a safe place to work, failing to follow safe procedures and ordering a task to be completed in an unsafe manner, failing to provide proper and adequate tools and equipment, failing to provide skilled and adequate crew for the job, and for acting without regard to the safety of a crew member.

Offshore crane accidents often cause serious injury. To learn more about your rights if you have been injured in a crane accident, read our article “If You've Been Injured in an Offshore Crane Accident, You Need a Maritime Injury Lawyer Who Understands Crane Regulations.”