Seaman claims attack by supervisor, sues ship owner

GALVESTON � A Louisiana seaman is suing his employer and the vessel's owner and operator after his supervisor reportedly struck him while he was working on a ship last year.

Jerry Tommy Parnell filed a lawsuit against Global International Vessels Ltd., Global Offshore (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and Global Industries International LP. Parnell claims he was assaulted by an employee named Ethan as they sailed on the DLB246 on July 14.

The suit was filed Jan. 24 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas.

Global Industries International is the plaintiff's employer. Global International Vessels owned the DLB246, which in turn was operated by Global Offshore at the time of the alleged attack.

According to the original petition, the defendants knew of the supervisor's dangerous propensities, but did not grant his requests to be relieved of his duties and sent home.

"Ethan had also worked beyond government-mandated work limits," the suit says.

"The defendants were aware that the vessel was understaffed, and that Ethan, the plaintiff's supervisor, had worked in excess of 100 days, in contradiction to the 60-day hitch allowed despite the supervisor's requests to go home."

Ethan, whose full name is not mentioned in the suit, is not a defendant.

Parnell shows he sustained injuries to his right shoulder, neck, back and face.

Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

He is represented by Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris LLP.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt.

Case No. 3:11-cv-00053