Seaman’s slip-and-fall nets $1.7M jury verdict

Although jurors found Quinton Henderson – a seaman who filed two slip-and-fall suits within a year’s time – 30 percent negligent in causing his own injuries, he was still awarded him more than $1.7 million in damages.

Court records show that Henderson filed suit against Irika Shipping, Prosperity Management and Lake Shore Shipping on Nov. 6, 2009, in Jefferson County District Court.

According to the original complaint, on April 7, 2007, Henderson was employed by Kinder-Morgan working aboard the Tina III, a vessel owned by the defendants, when he slipped and fell on the deck, injuring his back.

The case went to trial on March 4 in Judge Milton Shuffield’s 136th District Court.

According to the charge of the jury, filed March 18, jurors found that Prosperity Management was 30 percent negligent in causing the incident; Irika Shipping was found to be 40 percent negligent and Henderson 30 percent negligent.

Jurors awarded Henderson $1,052,000 for his past and future lost earnings, $392,943 for his past and future medical expenses and $290,000 for his past and future mental anguish.

This is not the first slip-and-fall suit filed by Quinton Henderson.

Quinton Henderson filed a Jones Act suit against Prosperity Management Services in Jefferson County District Court on Dec. 27, 2008, claiming he slipped and fell because the ship he served on lacked “adequate walking and working surfaces.”

That suit alleged that sometime in April 2007 Henderson was serving aboard the Tina III, a vessel owned by Prosperity, when he fell and injured his back.

Henderson is represented by the Law Office of Richard Schechter in Houston.

Attorney Kevin Walters represents Irika.

Case No. D185-296