Alleging he was denied adequate help and supervision while pulling a cable from the water, Jasper County resident Charles Adams has filed a Jones Act suit against Marine Fueling Services for injures suffered to his back.
The suit was filed Aug. 15 in Jefferson County District Court.
According to the lawsuit, on Aug. 18, 2009, Adams was working for Marine Fueling as a deckhand on a tug and barge. As he single-handedly pulled a large towing cable out from the water, he felt a sharp pain in his back.
"He was the only deck hand on the tug and barge," the suit states. "As a consequence of his injury, Plaintiff had to take significant amounts of prescription medicine for treatment of pain before eventually undergoing multiple surgeries including a lumbar fusion."
On top of failing to provide a safe workplace, the suit accuses the defendant of negligently instructing the plaintiff to pull the cable without help or mechanical apparatus.
The plaintiff is seeking all obtainable damages allowed under the Jones Act.
He is representing himself.
Judge Gary Sanderson, 6oth District Court, is assigned to the case.
Case No. B192-870