Ala. man says he was injured on vessel

An Alabama man is suing over claims he was injured while working on a vessel due to the alleged negligence of his employer.

Chadwick Jacob filed a lawsuit Nov. 3 in Galveston County District Court against L&M Botruc Rental Inc. and Hercules Offshore Inc., citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Jacob was employed as a seaman working on L&M Botruc's vessel, C TRUC 4, on Aug. 19, when he was required to stand on a stack of pipes to help tie off the vessel to a nearby jackup rig called Hercules 214, owned by Hercules Offshore. Jacob says that when a crane from Hercules’s rig lowered tie off ropes to the vessel it caused him to fall from the stack of pipes and severely injure his head, neck, back and other body parts.

The lawsuit states Jacob notified the captain of the C TRUC 4 of his injuries, and he was sent to shore alone to seek medical treatment. Jacob says his earning capacity has been severely diminished if not eliminated altogether, and he has incurred substantial medical and pharmaceutical costs. The defendants are accused of negligence in failing to supervise its crew, provide adequate medical treatment and maintain a safe work environment.

Jacob seeks exemplary and punitive damages, medical expenses, interest and attorney fees. He is represented by attorneys Kurt B. Arnold, J. Kyle Findley and Caj D. Boatright of Arnold and Itkin in Houston.

Galveston County District Court case number: CV-0073044