Spagnoletti Law Firm recently filed suit on behalf of the widow of a vessel crew member who was injured and eventually lost his life after an incident on the PACIFIC PEARL, an open hatch cargo ship. The worker sustained injuries while performing work inside a gantry crane on the vessel. While standing on metal grating inside the crane, he fell through the floor to the deck 12-13 meters below. As a result, the worker sustained severe injuries to his head, face, and legs. The crew member was hospitalized for months before losing his life. The lawsuit brings negligence claims against the owner and operator of the vessel, SMT Shipping Cyprus Ltd., SMT Shipping Poland sp zoo. The lawsuit alleges the companies were negligent in the following ways:
(a) failing to provide proper and adequate equipment to perform the job;
(b) failing to maintain the vessel and her appurtenances and/or equipment in a safe and reasonable state of repair;
(c) failing to perform necessary maintenance and inspections while in port in the United States;
(d) failing to perform the repairs listed by the Superintendent on the ship’s work list;
(e) failing to ensure that the areas identified by the Superintendent as areas of danger were isolated, tagged out, or placed out of bounds to the crew;
(f) failing to warn the crewmembers of the areas of danger identified by the Superintendent;
(g) failing to take reasonable precautions for Decedent’s safety;
(h) failing to provide Decedent with a reasonably safe place to work; and
(i) other acts of negligence and/or omissions to be shown at trial herein.
The widow of the crew member is represented by Spagnoletti Law Firm attorney Eric J. Rhine. The Plaintiff also brings a claim for unseaworthiness of the vessel.
Spagnoletti Law Firm has attorneys licensed in Texas, Florida, and New York. We have handled numerous cases involving complex litigation in both federal and state court across the country. Our attorneys have extensive experience in litigation of maritime personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Our attorneys have the skills needed to aggressively represent the families of loved ones or those who have been seriously injured during a maritime accident.
The experienced attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was seriously injured or died as a result of injuries on a vessel. Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your legal rights.