HOUSTON – A stevedore alleges he was injured in a fall on a ship when he stepped on a hole in the deck that was covered.
Gary Rawls filed a complaint on Oct. 30 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Cohensea Marine Co. and Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Co. alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Nov. 16, 2016, he was working for Cooper/Ports America LLC aboard defendants' vessel performing his regular job duties. The suit states the plaintiff was discharging cargo when he fell through an open hole or hatch on the deck that was covered by a tarp. He alleges he sustained serious injuries to his low back, left leg, groin and other parts of his body.
The plaintiff holds Cohensea Marine Co. and Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Co. responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to provide adequate warning of the existence of a latent or hidden dangers which were known to them or should have been known to them.
The plaintiff seeks actual damages of $950,000, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs of court and all other relief that are appropriate. He is represented by Christopher K. Johns of Lapeze & Johns PLLC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:17-cv-03288