The Houston law firm Arnold & Itkin recently secured two verdicts rendered against W&T Offshore, reaping $3.5 million in total from the company in a single day.
Although both civil suits were tried in Harris County and handled by the same law firm, the cases stem from two separate incidents of workplace injuries aboard two different W&T vessels.
Plaintiff Luke Meyers brought the first case in 2012.
Court records show that on May 12, 2011, Meyers was working aboard the West Cam 610, a W&T vessel, when a crane cable snapped and sent a 67-pound block falling, which landed on and smashed Meyers’ foot.
The second suit, filed in February 2013, was brought by plaintiff Wesley Fredieu and alleges that on Oct. 20, 2011, a fuel gas header exploded on the Ship Shoal 149G, also a W&T vessel, causing Fredieu to break his arm.
On Aug. 27 two separate Harris County juries found in favor of both men, awarding Fredieu $1.7 million in damages and Meyers $2.8 million, court records show.
In both verdicts, delivered within hours of one another, jurors found no negligence on the part of the plaintiffs, assigning all the blame to W&T.
“We could not be more proud of our team’s accomplishments,” said Kurt Arnold in a written statement.
“Having back-to back victories like this is a true testament to our team’s creativity, hard work, and, most of all, our complete commitment to the success of our clients. We look forward to continuing to stand up for injured maritime workers in situations like this and helping them move on with the compensation they rightly deserve.”
Arnold & Itkin attorneys Caj Boatright and Kala Sellers represent Fredieu. Meyers is represented by firm attorneys Kyle Findley and Ces Tavares.
In the last five years alone, Arnold & Itkin attorneys have recovered more than $1 billion from companies on behalf of their injury clients, according to data provided by the firm.
W&T is an independent oil and natural gas acquisition, exploitation and exploration company, according to the company’s website.
Case Nos. 2013-06933 (Fredieu) and 2012-74366 (Meyers)