A maritime worker has filed a lawsuit against his employer, alleging severe injuries sustained due to negligence and unsafe working conditions. Cameron Perry lodged the complaint in Harris County District Court on June 7, 2024, targeting Callan Marine, Ltd.
According to the court documents, Perry was employed as a Jones Act seaman by Callan Marine and was working on a crane barge named CAL near Grand Isle, Louisiana, on May 15, 2024. The incident occurred while Perry was assisting in unloading cargo from a truck onto the barge. The deck captain allegedly insisted on using a crane for this task without ensuring that the pipes being lifted were secure. As a result, one of the pipes fell from approximately 20 feet above Perry's head, causing his hard hat to come off and knocking him unconscious. While he lay on the ground, another pipe fell and struck him again. At the time of the incident, there was no safety officer present.
Perry's injuries included a concussion and multiple traumas to his head, neck, back, shoulder, and left arm. He claims that Callan Marine failed in several areas such as properly securing the cargo, maintaining equipment, providing adequate supervision and training for its crew, and adhering to industry safety standards. "Defendant is liable because its negligence proximately caused Plaintiff’s injuries," states Perry in his petition.
The plaintiff also accuses Callan Marine of failing to maintain an adequately equipped and crewed vessel, rendering it unseaworthy under maritime law. Furthermore, Perry asserts that Callan Marine has not fulfilled its legal obligation to pay maintenance and cure—a form of compensation for injured seamen—despite being aware of his injuries. This failure is described as "unreasonable," "arbitrary," and "willful," leading Perry to seek punitive damages.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Perry requests compensatory damages exceeding $1 million for past and future medical expenses, economic losses due to diminished earning capacity (potentially permanent), pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment and disfigurement. Additionally, he seeks punitive damages for Callan Marine's failure to provide maintenance and cure as required by law.
Representing Cameron Perry are attorneys Kurt Arnold (SBN: 24036150), Roland Christensen (SBN: 24101222), James R. Long (SBN: 24106218), Kyle Findley (SBN: 24076382), Cory Itkin (SBN: 24050808), Noah Wexler (SBN: 24060816) from Arnold & Itkin LLP based in Houston. The case has been assigned Case ID: 2024-36095 in the Harris County District Court with Judge Marilyn Burgess presiding.