Rotator cuff injuries don’t just happen to athletes as seaman files Jones Act suit

Rotator cuff injuries are normally associated with baseball pitchers but a deckhand has filed a Jones Act lawsuit after injuring his on a vessel, the Louisiana Record reports.

On Oct. 29, 2010, Ohio resident Mikey William Dotson fell down a flight of stairs which had been stripped of non-skid on the M/V Frank Haendiges and injured his rotator cuff which later required surgery, his lawsuit states. The stairs were said to be awaiting repair.

The suit was filed Oct. 20 in New Orleans federal court against defendant American Commercial Lines.

Dotson seeks compensation for physical pain and mental anguish, medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, maintenance and cure.

The defendant is accused of failure to properly equip, maintain and operate the vessel, failure to provide a safe workplace and failure to provide sufficient manpower and tools for the job at hand.