Katie's Seafood is being sued over claims it caused an employee serious injuries while at sea.
Christopher Matis filed a lawsuit June 17 in the Galveston County District Court against Katie's Seafood LLC, citing negligence.
Matis claims he was employed by the defendant, a Galveston company, as a fisherman aboard the vessel, Black Jack 4, on Dec. 15. The suit alleges Matis sustained serious injuries when a deckhand negligently dropped the hatch cover on Matis's head as he was coming out of the ice hole, causing severe and debilitating injury to his head and neck.
The defendant is accused of:
Operating the vessel at a high rate of speed in choppy, dangerous conditions;
Failing to supervise its crew;
Failing to train its employees;
Failing to provide safe equipment;
Failing to provide adequate crew;
Failing to provide immediate medical attention; and
Violating the Coast Guard and Occupational Safety and Health Administration's rules.
Matis is seeking damages in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits, interest, attorney's fees and court costs.
Matis is being represented in the case by Houston attorney Michael S. Tilton of Tilton and Tilton LLP.
Galveston County District Court Case No. 14-cv-0664
This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Galveston County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.