Rowan Companies seeks summary judgment in Jones Act case

Rowan Companies filed a motion for summary judgment Feb. 1 in a Jones Act lawsuit alleging it is responsible for injuring a medic.

In July 2009, Mississippi resident Curtis Woulard filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County District Court against Rowan Companies, claiming he sustained leg and back injuries while working as a medic aboard a ship.

Court records show Woulard was working on Rowan Companies' ship called Gorilla II on Jan. 26, 2009, when he sustained severe and disabling injuries during operations in Sabine, Texas.

In his suit, Woulard claims Rowan Companies owes him a duty to provide him with maintenance and cure, which the company allegedly refused to pay, entitling him to punitive damages.

However, according to Rowan Companies' motion, there is no evidence supporting Woulard's claims for insufficient maintenance and cure and punitive damages.

"To the contrary, sufficient evidence, including plaintiff's own deposition testimony, all conclusively establish that defendant made all necessary maintenance and cure payments," the motion states.

Francis I. Spagnoletti of Spagnoletti and Company in Houston represents Woulard.

Germer Gertz attorney Karen Bennett of Beaumont represents Rowan Companies.

Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, is presiding over the case.

Case No. E184-541