GALVESTON — A New York maritime working is suing the United States, alleging negligence aboard a vessel led to the plaintiff sustaining injuries.
Michael Pinnisi filed a lawsuit Aug. 3 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas against the United States of America, alleging negligence in failure to protect in failing to provide a reasonably safe place to work.
According to the complaint,on June 22, 2015, as a member of the crew of the USNS Lawrence H. Gianella in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Galveston, Pinnisi was instructed to manually lead a heavy mooring cable over several uneven pipes. The suit says Pinnisi's leg slipped between the open pipes and he fell, twisting his knee.
The lawsuit states Pinnisi sustained mental anguish, lost earnings, disfigurement, medical expenses, pain and suffering. The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to provide for the safety of the crew, failed to adequately train him and failed to provide adequate safeguards, manpower and equipment for the task.
Pinnisi seeks a trial by jury, damages for mental anguish and lost earnings, pre-and post-judgment interest, costs of suit and all other relief the court deems appropriate. He is represented by attorneys Scott C. Krist and Alex W. Horton of The Krist Law Firm PC in Houston.
Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case number 3:16-cv-00204