HOUSTON – An employee of Genesis Energy has filed a lawsuit claiming that he was knocked off a company boat and injured during a training mishap.
Plaintiff Nathaniel Martinez filed the lawsuit in the Harris County Circuit Court against Genesis Energy, LLC, and Genesis Marine, LLC.
According to the lawsuit, Martinez was employed by Genesis Energy, and on June 27, 2023, he was aboard a boat owned by Genesis Marine. The lawsuit alleges that on the day in question, the tankerman in charge of Martinez's training was tying the boat to the dock but had allowed too much slack to develop in the rope, which caused it to go under the boat. The lawsuit adds that the tankerman had failed to deactivate the rope brake as the vessel was moving backwards. Martinez alleges that when the rope tightened, it struck him across his chest, throwing him into the water and causing him serious injury.
According to Martinez, the defendants were negligent in failing to provide him with a safe workplace, failing to have properly trained crew members and employees, failing to follow safe policies and procedures, and failing to ensure protections were in place to prevent workplace injury.
Martinez alleges that as a result of the defendants' negligence, he has sustained severe bodily injuries, which have caused him to experience pain, suffering, and mental anguish, and that his injuries will impact his ability to earn income and lead a normal life. He adds that he has incurred medical expenses and will continue to require the services of medical staff to recover from his injuries.
The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial to seek $5,000,000 for damages, interest, court costs, and any other relief the court deems proper. He is represented in this case by attorneys Anthony G. Buzbee, Crystal Del Toro, and Ruth I. Rivera of The Buzbee Law Firm in Houston.
Harris County Circuit Court case number 2023-64696 / Court: 157