GALVESTON – A Hidalgo County seaman is seeking $2.5 million from a ship owner for injuries he sustained aboard the vessel.
Amadeo Garza filed suit against King Fisher Marine Service L.P. on May 5 in Galveston County District Court.
The defendant assigned Garza to the J N Fisher. According to the suit, on Jan. 8 Garza was ordered to repair a frayed spud cable.
Garza claims he was lifted 50 feet in the air in a bucket and was instructed to lift the extremely heavy cable into the bucket without any assistance.
"As a result, the plaintiff sustained injuries to his lower back, legs and other parts of his body," the original petition says.
The plaintiff insists that the alleged incident has caused him physical pain, impairment, mental anguish, lost wages and earning capacity as well as incurred medical expenses, which he points out the defendant refuses to help shoulder.
"The plaintiff would further show that the defendant's failure to provide the benefits of maintenance and cure was not only unreasonable, but was arbitrary and capricious, or willful, wanton, callous and persistent," the suit says.
Consequently, Garza seeks $2.5 million dollars and a jury trial.
He is represented by The Buzbee Law Firm.
The case has been assigned to Galveston County 56th District Court Judge Lonnie Cox.
Case No. 11-cv-0746