A Galveston County seaman is suing an oil spill response company, alleging negligence for his injuries on the job.
Leslie W. Hart, of Galveston County, filed a lawsuit Sept. 2 in Galveston County District Court, against Marine Spill Response Corporation, a Virginia-based company licensed to do business in Texas.
According to the complaint, Hart is an employee of Marine Spill Response where he works as a master responder and worked on the barge M/V MSRC 570, a vessel owned, operated and/or controlled by MSRC. The suit says on April 17, employees/agents of the defendants negligently caused the plaintiff to be struck in the leg and back by a valve and pipe as it was being removed at his employer's behest, and with the cooperation of others.
The lawsuit states Hart was thrown onto the deck of the barge, where he sustained injuries to his back, shoulder blade, collarbone, ribs, right leg and other parts of his body.
The plaintiff alleges negligence in various areas, un-seaworthiness of the barge in question, failure/refusal to provide maintenance and/or cure for the plaintiff, as well as loss of wages, and various damages including prolonging the amount of time he was without said medical attention. He requests damages for mental anguish, prolonged pain and suffering, health and living expenses,
Hart seeks more than $500,000 in damages, benefits as accrued to the time of the trial, interest accrued, attorney fees and a jury trial. He is represented by attorney Matthew D. Shaffer, of Schechter, Mcelwee, Shaffer & Harris in Houston.
Galveston County District Court case number CV-0074972.