Message to mariners from Montgomery, Alabama: if you are injured or involved in an accident on the vessel, do not say “mea culpa.” Taking the blame may seem like the noble thing to do. But it can have grave consequences for any future legal action you may take. Any well intended words can and will be used against you by the company’s lawyers. This is exactly what happened to a seaman who injured his ankle on a commercial fishing vessel when his leg was caught in the bight of a line used to secure the vessel. The plaintiff filed a Jones Act claim citing negligence of the master and unseaworthiness of the vessel. After the accident, the seaman reportedly said it was caused by his own “dumb, stupid mistake” and that it was not caused by unsafe working conditions or equipment. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals cited his own words to support its ruling against his negligence claim. Read the case Moore v. Omega Protein, Incorporated, here. The message to be taken away from this case: plead the fifth when it comes to your opinion of the safety of the vessel equipment and working conditions until you are able to speak with a qualified maritime attorney. Order our free consumer report “The Insider’s Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case.”
Category: Company Tricks Exposed
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