HOUSTON — A Louisiana man who suffered injuries after lifting a cast-iron arm while working aboard a Transocean deepwater drilling vessel is claiming negligence.
William Case filed a complaint July 24 in Harris County District Court against Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc., and Transocean Drilling (USA) Inc., alleging negligence.
According to his complaint, Case was working the night shift as a Roughneck on Transocean's Deepwater Conqueror on April 21 to April 22 in 2019 while in the Gulf of Mexico. Case alleges that he "was assigned" a task to move "a heavy, cast-iron arm" that was on the vessel's deck.
He claims while moving the cast-iron arm, he suffered injury to his lower back. Case alleges in his complaint that he reported his injuries and has been "unable to recover from his injuries." He also alleges that the lifting of the cast-iron arm required "mechanical assistance," that the defendants failed to "provide a safe work environment" and negligently assigned him to lift the cast-iron arm without proper assistance and equipment.
Case claims that the defendants also failed to properly train and supervise its employees and that the vessel was "unseaworthy" because he was not given "adequate equipment" for "lifting safely." He claims he has suffered "severe pain" impairment, loss of earnings and has incurred medical expenses as a result of his injuries.
Case seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, trial by jury, interest and all other just relief. He is represented by Kurt Arnold, Caj Boatright and Roland Christensen of Arnold & Itkin LLP in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2020-44163