Company accused of depriving injured seaman of maintenance and cure

A Texas seaman who suffered lower back and leg injuries while aloft on a vessel has filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against his employer.

Amadeo Garza of Hidalgo County filed the case May 5 in Galveston County District Court against King Fisher Marine Service L.P. of Port Lavaca, Tx.

According to the suit, Garza was ordered to repair a damaged spud cable aboard the JN Fisher. He was raised in a bucket 50 feet up and instructed to lift a heavy cable into the bucket without help, resulting in the injuries.

Court documents state that the defendant refused to provide maintenance and cure in an “unreasonable…arbitrary and capricious” manner.

Garza is asking for $2.5 million in damages and a jury trial. He claims physical pain, mental anguish, impairment, loss of wages and earning capacity along with medical expenses for which the company allegedly has refused to provide assistance.

Source: Southeast Texas Record