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An electrician from DeWitt County is suing Houston-based Diamond Offshore Services Company for injuries he reportedly sustained on the job. The lawsuit has been filed in Galveston County District Court.
The electrician, Richard Dean Dewitt of Cuero, states that his employer, Diamond Offshore, failed to ensure his safety while he was working on the company owned vessel, Ocean Clipper, on April 9.
Dewitt’s Jones Act lawsuit was filed on December 11. Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor will be presiding over the case. Dewitt has requested a jury trial.
The lawsuit does not give details as to the circumstances that led up the incident, but it does state that Diamond Offshore was negligent and that Ocean Clipper was an unseaworthy vessel.
According to Dewitt’s compliant, "Occurrences and injuries occurred as a proximate result of the unsafe and unseaworthy condition of the Ocean Clipper, its crews, and appurtenances and equipment…as a proximate result of the initial acts and lack of attention on the part of the defendants." The complaint also accuses the employer of violating the Jones Act and U.S. general maritime law. The Jones Act protects injured seamen and provides compensation when a vessel owner is negligent or if a vessel is unseaworthy.
Dewitt allegedly sustained severe and painful injuries to his back and other parts of his body. Court documents state that his consequent unemployment caused him to incur medical and pharmaceutical expenses and that Diamond Offshore refused to pay for these costs.
The lawsuit states that "In connection therewith, (the) plaintiff would show that he sustained severe pain, physical impairment, discomfort, mental anguish, and distress to date and that in all reasonable probability, such physical pain, physical impairment, and mental anguish will continue indefinitely and into the future."
Dewitt also alleges that Diamond Offshore refused to pay maintenance to him and did not provide him with medical cure.
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