GALVESTON – A Jones Act seaman is seeking more than $1 million from his employer over back and neck injuries he allegedly sustained while working on a vessel.
Benjamin Ratliff filed a complaint on Nov. 12 in the Galveston County District Court against Baywater Drilling LLC, Baywater Drilling Management Partners LP, Hilcorp Energy Co. and DWB Consulting LLC alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was employed by Baywater Drilling and was assigned to the vessel Bayou Blue. He alleges that on May 15, he was injured while working aboard the Bayou Blue when he was required to manually lift objects that weighed more than 300 pounds. He alleges his neck, back and other parts of his body were injured.
The plaintiff holds Baywater Drilling LLC, Baywater Drilling Management Partners LP, Hilcorp Energy Co. and DWB Consulting LLC responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to provide adequate crew and necessary safety equipment to perform the task and violated applicable regulations.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks damages in of more than $1 million and such other and further relief to which he show himself justly entitled. He is represented by Kurt B. Arnold, J. Kyle Findley, Kala F. Sellers and Adam Lewis of Arnold & Itkin LLP in Houston.
Galveston County District Court case number CV-0082265