Maritime Injury Blog

Jones Act justice denied when filing under the wrong law

Sometimes a barge is not really a vessel.

Texas resident George Casas and his legal counsel assumed that the barge he was installing insulation on was a vessel. So after injuring several vertebrae in his back after slipping and falling from an unfinished floor suspended off the bottom, Casas filed a maritime injury lawsuit in U.S. Southern District of Mississippi court. 

The Court denied his claim, ruling that the barge he worked on was not in fact an actual vessel, and that the case was ineligible under maritime law. The Court ruled that because the barge was in actuality an amphibious transport dock under construction, the case was invalidated.

They did, however, acknowledge that sub-contractor Land Coast, Casas’ employer, was aware of dangerous working conditions. However, Land Coast was not named as a party in the suit. Joiner and Northrup Grumman, the contractors named in the suit, were not proven to have such knowledge.

So, despite the Court’s recognition that a worker was legitimately hurt due to employer negligence, George Casas was left as an uncompensated victim. Not only of unsafe working conditions, but a victim of injustice.

Maritime workers need to make sure that they are represented by experienced proven counsel who knows the ins and outs of maritime law.

Drilling Rig Workers at Risk of Harmful Benzene Exposure

If you work on a drilling rig, offshore oil rig or other vessel, you may be at risk of harmful benzene exposure.  Benzene has been widely used for commercial and industrial purposes, despite the known fact that it is a toxic chemical.  This chemical can be found in crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke.  Prolonged exposure to benzene can lead to serious, life-threatening medical conditions.

There are guidelines set by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding the level of benzene workers are allowed to be exposed to while performing job duties.  However, maritime workers often find themselves developing serious illnesses from inhaling benzene.

Benzene exposure can affect the bone marrow and red blood cells in the body and has even been known to cause excessive bleeding.  Since the immune system is also impacted by exposure to benzene, the chance of getting an infection is high.  Long-term exposure has also been associated with leukemia, a cancer of the blood forming organs.

If you have been exposed to benzene on an oil rig or other vessel and have become ill, you need to speak with a maritime injury lawyer immediately.  You may be entitled to compensation for your illness.  Contact the law office of Vujasinovic & Beckcom today at 713-224-7800 for legal advice.