Tribble
Rowan Companies recently had a motion to substitute counsel granted in a suit brought by Leroy Smith, who sued Rowan and three other companies for injuries he received while working on a scaffold two years ago.
As previously reported, the suit was filed June 10 in Jefferson County District Court. The other defendants named in the suit include Echo Maintenance, Gulf Copper and Signal International.
Court records show that on Jan. 11 Rowan filed a motion seeking to replace attorney Mary Szilagyi-Ovaitt, of the Houston law firm Handlin & Associates, with attorney Wesson Tribble of the Houston law firm Tribble, Ross & Wagner.
The motion does not state why Rowan seeks to swap attorneys but does say no delay in the prosecution of the case will result by the substitution.
Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, granted the motion on Jan. 19.
The case is slated to go to trial in August, court records show.
The original petition alleges that on June 16, 2009, Smith was aboard the rig Gorilla IV working on a scaffold when he slipped on a board.
"As he reached to grab the railing, he found the railing had been removed and was therefore unable to stop his fall, causing him to severely injure his knee and body," the suit states.
The suit alleges the defendants negligently failed to provide him with a safe workplace and warn him of the danger.
Smith is suing for his alleged past and future mental anguish, medical expenses, impairment, lost wages and pain, plus all court costs.
He is represented by Beaumont attorney Adam Terrell of the Weller, Green, Toups & Terrell.
Case No. A190-243