Seaman files lawsuit after slipping down oily stairs

A mariner who claims he was hurt after slipping and falling down oily stairs on the vessel has filed a lawsuit against Settoon Construction Inc., his employer.

Calvin Verdin filed the case in federal court in New Orleans on July 19.

Verdin claims that he suffered the undisclosed injuries when he stepped in oil on the steps that led to the engine room aboard the M/V Christie M. Settie. The incident allegedly occurred in the navigable waterways of Franklin, La. on June 10, 2011.

The defendant is accused of failure to properly clean the stairwells, failure to maintain the vessel in a reasonably safe condition, failure to warn of the stairwell defects, failure to find or correct dangerous conditions and failure to safely operate the vessel.

Other accusations against the defendant are negligence for failure to repair unseaworthy and unsafe conditions and failure to provide adequate safety training to crew members and operators.

Verdin seeks compensation for physical pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, lost wages and loss of earnings capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, aggravation and annoyance, court costs and punitive damages.

Source: Louisiana Record