HOUSTON — A seaman alleges the owner of a vessel refused to provide him maintenance and cure after he suffered two separate work-related injuries.
Jaime Godinez filed a complaint May 24 in Harris County District Court against Crosby Dredging LLC.
Godinez, an American seaman, alleges in his complaint that he was working aboard the defendant's vessel in the Houston area in the summer of 2020. He alleges that while he was tightening a bolt on a dredge pipe, his finger became "smashed/crushed" in the pipe.
Godinez claims the pliers he was using for the task were "not appropriate for this type of work" and would not allow him to keep a tight grip on the bolt which caused his hand to move into a pinch joint. Godinez further claims that in December of 2020, he "made a heavy physical lift" and suffered a back injury. He alleges that the defendants have denied, delayed payments or have not paid a sufficient amount for his maintenance and cure and refused to investigate or acknowledge his injuries.
Godinez seeks monetary relief of no less than $2 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Anthony Buzbee and Christopher Leavitt of The Buzbee Law Firm in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-30950