Monthly Archives: March 2022

Admiralty and maritime injury law is complex. Your rights to recover monetary compensation under the Jones Act and other maritime laws may be much different than those in any other type of injury case. We have the experience and expertise to help.

MARITIME INJURY LAWYER

Admiralty and maritime injury law is a complex area governed by a variety of federal statutes. Your rights and opportunities to recover monetary compensation under the Jones Act and other maritime laws may be much different than those in any other type of injury case.

In addition to hundreds of cases involving drilling rigs, barges, tugboats, other vessels, oil platforms and transport helicopters on U.S. waterways, our attorneys at Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers have handled numerous maritime law cases originating in international and foreign waters. If you need a lawyer to evaluate your maritime injury claim, contact our Texas-based firm today.

Jones Act and 905(b) Claims — Fatal Accidents — International Cases

We focus on serious maritime accidents and injuries, wherever they occur along the Gulf Coast or elsewhere. You can depend on our ability to handle:

Jones Act claims, as well as third-party personal injury litigation, for maritime workers injured working on U.S. waterways or docks.

Shore-based maritime injuries best addressed through 33 U.S.C.A. §905(b) claims against a vessel as a third party or party other than the employer.

International maritime injuries

Fatal maritime accidents leaving family members without financial support and companionship

Maritime Injury

Maritime & Jones Act Claims

• Shore- Based Maritime Injuries
• Maintenance and Cure
• Reporting Maritime/Jones Act Injuries
• Lawsuits Against Maritime Employers
• Offshore Fracking Injuries

Serious Maritime Injury

• Fatal Maritime Accidents
• Maritime Line Injury Claims
• Maritime Tool Injuries
• Maritime Lifting Injuries
• Injuries from Making UP or Unfacing a Barge
• Maritime Gangway Injuries
• Maritime Spinal, Neck and back Injuries
• Maritime Head and Brain Injuries
• Maritime Burn Injuries

Injured Seaman

• Tankers, Cargo & Container Vessels
• Tugboat & Barge Injury Attorneys
• Dredging Vessel Injuries
• Dive Boats & Divers
• Workboat Injuries
• Inland Marine Injuries

Defending The Rights Of Injured Oilfield Workers

• Offshore Drilling Rig Injuries
• Offshore Explosions
• Fixed Platform Injuries

Maritime Accidents In US Waters

• Texas
• Louisiana
• California
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• New York
• Alaska

International Maritime Injuries

 Maritime & Offshore Employer Disputes

• Edison Chouest Maritime Disputes
• Transocean Maritime Disputes

ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO YOU UNLESS WE WIN.

Our attorneys are prepared to take a serious look at your claim and potential case. Ours is one of a select few Texas law firms with extensive experience in international litigation, and we have clear strengths in personal injury, maritime, insurance bad faith, property insurance disputes, hurricane damage and other claims against powerful entities.

If you are interested in speaking with an attorney from Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers, please fill out the contact form or call one of the numbers listed for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Our client was dutifully employed as support personnel on an offshore rig operated by KEPPEL AMFELS. On or about August 9, 2013, our client was returning from a lunch break when Plaintiff’s hand was caught in a cable attached to a pulley that was not properly maintained and did not have adequate safety protections. Plaintiff immediately reported his injury, and was sent to the nearest hospital for immediate care for the issue.

These unsafe conditions led to an accident that resulted in the partial amputation of Plantiff’s left pinky finger and other damage to our client’s hand. Due to the accident, our client has suffered from more than physical and bodily injury. Plaintiff’s damages due to negligence have resulted in lasting physical and mental anguish, as well as continued difficulty in acquiring and performing work.

Previous to the incident, Plaintiff was an able bodied worker that is now forced to deal with severe limitations attributable to physical impairment. Plaintiff’s injury directly led to loss of earnings as the injury limited his capability to perform tasks at a pre-injury level. Due to reckless and dangerous behavior on the part of KEPPEL AMFELS and its representatives, our client seeks recompense for the numerous medical expenses and lasting effects associated with the injury. Through no fault of Plaintiff’s own, future prospects of financial self-support and life experience are now significantly diminished.

If you or someone you know believes they have experienced an injury attributable to negligence on the part of their employer, do not hesitate to contact Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers today for a consultation. Whether the effects of injury are immediate or long-term we may be able to help you.

The First Court of Appeals of Texas this week issued an opinion (http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=2bb3591e-accb-4299-bce1-7766ff273147&coa=coa01&DT=Opinion&MediaID=240869e8-71b1-4845-903f-339f405dca80) affirming a jury verdict for $8.5 million for Willie “David” Williams, a mechanic injured onboard Diamond Offshore’s drilling rig OCEAN LEXINGTON working offshore Egypt in 2008. Mr. Williams’s lawsuit included claims under the Jones Act, doctrine of unseaworthiness, and general maritime law. David Williams sustained disabling injuries to his spine when forced to make rushed emergency repairs to the rig’s drilling “elevators”. Diamond Offshore complained that the jury’s award, which included $3.4 million for future pain and suffering associated with David’s injuries and their ongoing impacts for the rest of his life, was excessive, although this amount is still less than the salary for a single year for Diamond Offshore’s CEO (http://insiders.morningstar.com/trading/executive-compensation.action?t=DO).

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers has filed suit against Noble Drilling (US) LLC and Noble Offshore Corp. (“Noble”) under the Jones Act and general maritime law alleging negligence on the part of Noble, unseaworthiness as to its vessel the M/V Tom Madden, wrongful termination, and wrongful denial of maintenance and cure .

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s client was employed as a Floorhand by Noble Drilling and Noble Offshore.  Due to under-manning (an insufficient number of crewmembers) and unsafe work practices, the client suffered a severe leg injury while ascending and descending multiple flights of stairs.  To add insult and further injury, Noble terminated Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s client following his work injury and refused to pay maintenance and cure, as required by maritime law.

The Jones Act is a maritime law that provides protection to seamen who are injured while working on a vessel.  Seamen are entitled to a safe place to work, a properly manned vessel, and safe equipment.  When a Jones Act employer is negligent in providing for the safety of its crew or provides an unseaworthy vessel, it may be held liable for damages such as lost earnings, medical bills, physical impairment, pain, mental anguish, and other damages.

In addition, maritime law requires an employer, like Noble, to pay maintenance (costs of living) and cure (medical expenses) following a work injury, regardless of whether an employer is negligent or the vessel is unseaworthy.  The failure to provide maintenance and cure allows a Jones Act seaman to seek damages for the delay in payment of maintenance and cure, attorneys’ fees, and punitive damages.  Finally, a Jones Act employer is not allowed to terminate an employee in retaliation for reporting a work injury.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP is proud to represent this Jones Act seaman in his fight against Noble and intends to take every step to seek full compensation for the injuries suffered.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you or someone you know has been injured by the negligence while working offshore, whether on a drilling rig, barge, tug, or other vessel.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers has filed suit against E Squared Marine Services LLC, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, and Gulf Sulphur Services Ltd., LLP under the Jones Act and general maritime law and for the arbitrary and capricious denial of maintenance and cure

The suit was brought to collect damages caused by the negligence of the client’s Jones Act employer, E Squared Marine, and the negligence and unseaworthiness of the barge Duval 3, and its crew, directly contributing to serious injuries on or about November 15, 2014 in the inter-coastal water of Louisiana.  On or about November 15, 2014, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s client was at the dock of Citgo’s Lake Charles Refinery loading sulfur into the Duval 3, a barge owned by Defendant Gulf Sulphur Services. Plaintiff, employed as a crewmember for E Squared Marine, was working on a transfer between the refinery, owned and operated by Citgo, and the barge, owned by Gulf Sulphur Services. Without warning, the barge exploded. The blast, which sent flames high into the air, occurred within approximately 30 feet of the client. He went into shock and noise induced hearing loss. He quickly called Citgo personnel over the radio, commanding a shutdown be performed. A second blast occurred, along with a third emission of heat and gas.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s Client suffered hearing loss, head trauma, dizziness, tinnitus, an inability to maintain balance, and severe headaches. Defendants failed their duty to the Plaintiff by not providing a vessel and its appurtenances suitable for its intended use as the Fire Department’s inspection revealed the barge’s tank had not been cleaned as frequently as required, causing crystal formation within the tank and increasing the risk of a fire ignition. Further, the United States Coast Guard determined the cause of the explosion could also be attributed to the sensor/thermostat aboard the barge providing false readings, causing the tank to heat the sulfur to a degree highly dangerous and increasing the risk of such an explosion. The grounding cable was also improperly grounded before the explosions occurred. The dangerous and defective condition of the barge and dock violated applicable laws and regulations of the United States of America, and accordingly the Defendants are liable for negligence, negligence per se, and in strict liability.

The suit alleges that E Squared did not properly supervise or train the crew, failed to properly man the vessel, failed to provide adequate equipment, and/or failed to provide a safe place to work to Mr. Pollard.  And Citgo and Gulf Sulphur Services were also responsible for the condition of the barge Duval 3, including faulty cleaning, faulty thermostat/sensor, and the grounding failure.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP is proud to represent this Jones Act seaman who was injured due to negligence and an unseaworthy vessel. Contact us today if you or someone you know an injured seaman or offshore worker who would like to have their rights under the Jones Act, general maritime law, and doctrine of unseaworthiness evaluated.