What Our Clients Say

I want to thank my attorney and his secretary for the kindness I was treated with. I want to express my gratitude because they valued my rights without discriminating my race, color, or religion.

Maria G.
Dear Mr. Beckcom:

I never got a chance to say thank you for the wonderful job you did on my daughter's case. She will be graduating in June from High School with cum laude status. She will be attending college at U.T. Austin and majoring in Communications. Thanks to your efforts her college education has been taken care of. Thank you again from both of us.

J. Perez

Houston, Texas
Mr. Beckcom fought diligently on my behalf against my former employer, without a retainer from me.....I was truly grateful to have Mr. Beckcom on my side and would recommend him to anyone without reservation."

A. Worley, Injured Cruise ship employee

New Mexico
I hired Brian Beckcom in 2009 for the injury case I had after I was hurt as a deckhand and within 11 months Brian had settled my case. He did such a fabulous job and I recommend using his firm for your maritime injury case.

J. McKeone, Deckhand

Livingston, Texas
Brian and his staff are courteous and professional, and they work diligently to make sure the client transitions through the process as easily and comfortably as possible.

Your sincere and satisfied client,

Steve T.

Houston, Texas
I was hurt on a boat offshore. Brian and his law firm worked hard on my case. The settlement he got for me will take care of my financial needs for the rest of my life. If you are looking for someone to take your interests at heart Brian and his law firm can give you the attention your case deserves.

Tim M.

Austin, Texas
I hired Brian after I was hurt on an offshore oil platform. I would recommend Brian and his law firm to anyone who needed a good injury lawyer, and especially any offshore worker. . ..

Jackie R

Houston, Texas
There are only a small number of attorneys who could handle such a complex case as mine, and Brian was at the top of the list. His response time is unsurpassed, replying within minutes to my initial enquiry. He has an instinctive understanding of the legal issues, and consummate people skills, an essential attribute in the negotiation phase of any litigation. Thanks to Brian the case was settled favorably within a year.

Steven S.,

Wales, U.K.
Brian, your book was a real eye-opener. If I had read your book sooner, I would have avoided a lot of costly mistakes.

Captain Jim Vickers
I was hurt on an offshore oil rig. I was unable to work or get proper medical care from the company. I was referred to Brian by another law firm because that firm knew Brian specialized in Jones Act cases. Brian settled my case in less than 12 months. The settlement will enable me to take care of my family financially for a long time. I would highly recommend Brian and his firm to any injured worker.

Freddy N.,

Lufkin, Texas

Disclaimer

We designed this website to provide information to consumers, injured people, and their families. Our goal is to level the playing field between consumers and insurance companies and expose the tricks, traps, and techniques they use to cheat injured people out of their legal rights. We also let consumers know about legal news, including verdicts and settlements and other interesting legal information.

But please understand that nothing on this website is meant to provide legal information about your specific case, create an attorney-client relationship, or imply that the results of your legal case will be the same as some other case.

Maritime Injury Blog

The Houston law offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. post blogs on maritime accidents and offshore injuries. If a maritime accident has left you injured or unable to work, contact a Jones Act lawyer from our law firm today. We represent people who have been injured at sea or offshore in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean and throughout the Gulf Coast, Port of Houston and Galveston Bay.

Jones Act

6/23/2009
Mindy
Comments (0)

Is a Maintenance Worker Protected Under the Jones Act?

A case has been brought before the Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals, which will determine whether an injured maintenance worker on a boat is considered to be a seaman and therefore entitled to protection under the Jones Act .

The Jones Act lawsuit was originally filed in Jefferson County District Court on May 18, 2007 against R.L. Eldridge Construction. Paul Bailey initiated the suit after he was injured from a fall accident on one of Eldridge’s push boats. At the time, he was employed as a maintenance worker for Eldridge. Bailey sustained head injuries from the fall and wanted to pursue compensation in a Jones Act lawsuit.

Eldridge filed a motion for summary judgment arguing that Bailey is excluded from the Jones Act because he spent only 13 out of his 62 day employment on a ship of any kind. Judge Donald Floyd of the 172nd District Court granted the motion for summary judgment and ordered that Bailey take nothing from Eldridge.

Bailey appealed the judge’s decision and stated that he spent more than half of his employment on the water as a deck hand.

Under the Jones Act, to recover compensation, the worker must be considered a seaman . Typically, a maritime employee who works over the water for extended periods of time on boats of all kinds, oil rigs, movable platforms and who go out to sea are considered Jones Act seamen.

If you have been injured in a maritime accident, contact a maritime injury lawyer at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at 713.224.7800 or 877.724.7800 for legal advice.

Labels: Injured maintenance worker Jones Act Jones Act Lawsuit Jones Act seamen