A plaintiff, described in the court brief as an American seaman, is suing his employer, Harley Marine Gulf LLC, and Chevron USA, alleging negligent and grossly negligent actions that caused him injuries.
Brandon Salyers filed suit June 22 in Galveston County District Court against Harley Marine Gulf LLC and Chevron USA, both with offices in Dallas.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 15, the plaintiff was working for Harley on board the tug boat Alamo. The boat was pulling a barge, the Kolache, near the Chevron docks off the coast of Mississippi; both vessels are owned by Harley and, the plaintiff claims, both are unseaworthy.
The claim states he was instructed to untie the Kolache from the dock and that the vessel was undermanned and the plaintiff was being rushed to perform the task. The plaintiff climbed a damaged ladder, fell approximately 30 feet, hit off the vessel, lost consciousness and landed in the water.
He sustained serious injuries to his head, arm, elbow, neck, back, hand and other parts of his body due to the defendants' negligence.
The plaintiff requests a jury trial, as well as a monetary damages for his injuries and inability to work, court costs and attorney's fees.
Attorneys for the plaintiff are Kurt B. Arnold, J. Kyle Findley and Kala Flittner of Arnold & Itkin LLP in Houston, Texas.
Galveston County District Court case number CV-0074491.