HOUSTON - The 14th Court of Appeals recently remanded an offshore injury lawsuit that resulted in a $2.2 million judgment for a new trial.
Court records show William Black sued Diamond Offshore Drilling and Diamond Rig Investments, claiming he was injured while working as a mechanic on board a mobile offshore drilling unit docked in Spain.
At trial, a jury returned a verdict in Black’s favor and found both Diamond Offshore and Diamond Rig were negligent. The trial court subsequently signed a final judgment awarding Black $2.2 million in damages.
On appeal, the Diamond defendants challenged the wording of the sole jury question on liability, the legal and evidentiary basis for liability, and the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the damages assessed for Black’s future medical expenses.
On June 14, the 14th Court reversed the trial court’s judgment, rendered judgment in part, and remanded the case in part for further proceedings.
Justices concluded that the jury question did not submit an immaterial claim that cannot support Black’s recovery. On the second issue, justices found a sufficient legal and evidentiary basis supports the imposition of liability against Diamond Drilling, and concluded insufficient evidence supports the trial court’s implied finding that Diamond Rig owed a duty to Black.
“We therefore reverse the judgment against Diamond Rig and render judgment in its favor,” the opinion states. “Because the jury apportioned liability among Diamond Rig and Diamond Drilling, we cannot be reasonably certain that the inclusion of Diamond Rig in the charge did not affect the jury’s findings as to the apportionment of liability. We therefore remand the case for a new trial as to Diamond Drilling.”
Case No. 14-19-00905-CV