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Wales, U.K.
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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

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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.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom Blog

Jones Act

8/21/2009
Michael Rawlins
Comments (0)

Jones Act lawsuit dismissed because accident did not occur on a "vessel"

A federal court denied the slip and fall claim of an insulation installer, stating that the amphibious transport dock he was working on did not fall under maritime law.

George Casas, Texas resident, alleged negligence against defendants Joiner and Northrup Grumman, his employers, after being injured while installing the insulation beneath an unfinished floor suspended 12 to 18 inches above the bottom.

Citing employer negligence, Casas claimed he slipped, fell and herniated numerous disks in his back while traversing raised metal beams on the dock under construction in the Northrup Shipyard.

The U.S. Southern District of Mississippi court denied his claim, ruling that the barge he worked on was not a vessel, and that the case was ineligible under maritime law.

The plaintiff also failed on the grounds of suing the wrong party.

The court ruled that sub-contractor Land Coast, his direct employer, did in fact have prior knowledge of dangerous working conditions. However, Land Coast was not a party in this case and Casas failed to prove that Joiner, the contractor, did have prior knowledge. Casas also did not demonstrate that Joiner had a duty to cover the scaffold with plywood.

The lawsuit was initially filed in Hidalgo County, Texas, moved to Southern District of Texas and re-filed in the Mississippi court after being dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction.

Want to know more about back injury cases that occur offshore?

Feel free to call our firm's toll free number, 877.724.7800 , or send us an email through this website, and we would be glad to schedule an appointment with the firm's maritime lawyer, Brian Beckcom.

Or you can download Brian's free Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case