HOUSTON — A rigger worker alleges he suffered severe injuries while trying to climb out of a cargo hold area.
Erneston Nelson filed a complaint June 28 in Harris County District Court against Cooper/T Smith Stevendoring Company and Cooper Consolidated LLC alleging negligence.
According to his complaint, Nelson was employed as a rigger by Treo Staffing and was working on the defendant's MSXT Helen vessel on July 26, 2022. He claims that while rigging large bags of material to be lifted off by crane, he was climbing up stacked bags of cargo when he suffered a fall. Nelson alleges he suffered injuries to his neck and back and that the defendants failed to properly supervise the workers.
He also alleges the defendants' negligence for failing to provide a reasonably safe place to work and provided no way to safely climb out of the cargo hold area. Nelson further alleges the defendants violated Coast Guard and OSHA regulations.
Nelson seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, interest and all other just relief. He is represented by Marcus Spagnoletti and Eric Rhine of The Spagnoletti Law Firm in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2023-39577