Spagnoletti Law Firm recently filed suit on behalf of an injured Jones Act seaman who was present on the Maersk Transporter when the vessel was attacked by pirates. At the time, the vessel was in the Gulf of Mexico.
The lawsuit alleges the employer of the worker on board was negligent in:
(a) failing to provide proper and adequate crew on the Vessel;
(b) failing to properly select, hire, train and manage Defendant’s employees, who had supervisory over Plaintiff;
(c) failing to take reasonable precautions for Plaintiff’s safety;
(d) failing to provide Plaintiff with a reasonably safe place to work;
(e) failing to implement proper and adequate safety methods and/or procedures;
(f) failing to provide security measures, including, but not limited to, adequate and sufficient communication of safety information and status updates, and protection from violent pirate attacks;
(g) failing to properly and adequately provide safety training, planning, and information to Plaintiff in the event a ship he was working on came under violent attack;
(h) failing to remove Plaintiff from the vessel following numerous other pirate attacks in the region.
The Plaintiffs are represented by Spagnoletti Law Firm attorneys Marcus Spagnoletti and Eric J. Rhine.
It can be dangerous to work in any profession when safety considerations are not made. This is especially so when working on a vessel. Safe maritime companies must consider piracy precautions to ensure that their ships do not put the lives of crew members at risk. The risks of catastrophic injury or kidnapping due to pirate activity is especially high in certain regions of the world that have historically had a problem ensuring the safety of vessels. When ship operators fail to account for the hazards posed by known pirate activity, catastrophic injuries or deaths can result. Safe companies must help their ships and crews avoid becoming victims of piracy. Before sailing in dangerous waters, safe maritime companies must perform at a bare minimum the following:
Conduct a risk assessment related to piracy;
Create and educate crew members regarding ship self-protection measures; and
Implement policies and procedures on what to do if attacked by pirates.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another party. Spagnoletti Law Firm has lawyers admitted to practice in Texas, Florida and New York, and has handled maritime lawsuits throughout the country.
The experienced maritime attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of piracy. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to vessel accidents, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your rights.