A recent Fifth Circuit per curiam opinion proves to be a lesson for maritime and admiralty attorneys in how to preserve issues on appeal, particularly in Jones Act jury trials. In 2014, Plaintiff Richard Bosarge applied for employment with Cheramie Marine, L.L.C. and was hired as a relief captain. While on…
Articles Posted in Boating Accidents
Third Circuit Affirms Large Punitive Damages Award to Victim of Boating Accident
Last month, the Court of Appeal for Louisiana’s Third Circuit affirmed a jury verdict of $125,000.00 in compensatory damages and $23,000,000.00 in punitive damages in favor of the plaintiff, Ron Warren, in a maritime products liability case. The incident at the heart of the case took place over ten years…
Alleged Boat Collision Leaves Man Injured, Leads to Lawsuit
Anthony Buffinet was aboard the Cry Baby, the fishing vessel Cry Baby, when it was struck by another vessel, according to the suit filed by Buffinet on March 29 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Purportedly, on March 25, 2013, the Cry Baby, owned…
Worker Sues for Injuries Allegedly Sustained on Job
After allegedly suffering a work injury, Lloyd Willis, an employee of United Fire & Safety, filed a lawsuit against Woods Group PSN Inc., Energy XXI USA Inc., and JNET LLC in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on February 16, citing negligence and failure of…
Lack of Crane on Barge Allegedly Results in Injury
A project supervisor is suing multiple companies for injuries allegedly sustained on a barge-loading job. Dale E. Loveall Jr., individually and on behalf of his minor child, Sadie Loveall, and Robin Loveall, filed suit January 28 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against multiple…
Submerged Chevron Boat Allegedly Causes Another To Sink, Injuries
A lawsuit has been brought against Chevron for a shrimp boat that sank last year, allegedly due to an underwater and unmarked vessel owned by the company. Hosea Wilson and Shajaun Turner filed suit on January 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Chevron…
Boat Capsized Reportedly Due to Negligent Wake Leaves Two Injured
Two men’s routine fishing trip was literally and figuratively upheaved when another marine vessel’s high rate of speed resulted in the capsizing of their boat, allegedly leaving the two men with various injuries. Benjamin Lee Hines, Sr., and Andreas Damone Vitto sued Southern States Offshore Inc. on January 7 in…
Two Motorcyclists Pronounced Dead After Collision with 18-Wheeler
A three-vehicle crash in Delcambre resulted the death of an uncle and nephew from Abbeville, according to police reports. On November 26, 2015, Jones Mitchell and Gerald Mitchell were traveling west on Suzuki motorcycles on LA 14 and approaching an east-west crossover. An 18-wheeler, driven by Earnest Comesana Jr., was…
Ship Passing at High Rate of Speed Allegedly Results in Injury, Lawsuit
A tugboat captain has sued a fellow tug company as a result of an injury sustained while on the water, according to the filed complaint Troy Matthiews, a tugboat captain for Bayou Vista, and Tracey, his wife, have filed suit against Crosby Tugs, citing negligence and personal injury stemming from…
Stray Metal Particles Allegedly Injury Offshore Worker
A former employee of Phoenix International Holdings Inc., is suing his former employer as well as several affiliated parties for alleged negligence which resulted in injuries sustained while working offshore. On October 16, John Bubenik of Florida filed suit in the Eastern District Court of Louisiana against Phoenix International Holdings…