Yearly Archives: 2022

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.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers has filed suit against Weatherford International, LLC (“Weatherford”) for negligent operations leading to a serious shoulder injury suffered by its client while working on an oil rig overseas.

Due to the negligence of Weatherford, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s Client suffered injuries on or about May 14, 2015, at an oil rig located in Iraq.  On the date of the incident in question, Plaintiff was working for Baker Hughes.  While walking toward the rig stairs, he tripped on a blow down line that was improperly and unsafely placed and partially buried near a set of stairs.  As a result, he tripped and fell suffering a serious shoulder/arm and nerve injuries. Weatherford, by and through its employees and officers, was negligent in creating the dangerous conditions that proximately resulted in his injuries, which include injuries to his shoulder/arm and nerves, and in failing to provide adequate equipment, a properly positioned blow down line, an adequate crew, and negligent hiring, training, supervision, and in other respects.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP is proud to represent this worker who was injured due to the negligence of an oil rig operator while working overseas. Contact us today if you or someone you know suffered from an oil field injury.