A recent court filing has brought serious allegations against a marine transportation company, claiming negligence and unsafe working conditions that led to severe injuries. On July 19, 2024, James Agee filed a complaint in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, against Kirby Inland Marine, LP.
James Agee, an American seaman residing in Alabama, alleges that he sustained significant injuries while employed by Kirby Inland Marine aboard the M/V ENTERPRISE on June 1, 2023. According to the complaint, Agee was working as a tankerman in the Houston Ship Channel when he was injured due to insufficient assistance while attempting to locate and connect a transfer line. The strain from this task resulted in injuries to his lumbar spine and other parts of his body.
The plaintiff claims that Kirby Inland Marine failed in several key areas: providing a safe work environment, adequate support for job tasks, proper manning of the vessel, and effective job planning. Furthermore, Agee asserts that the vessel M/V ENTERPRISE was unseaworthy at all relevant times. "Plaintiff sustained injuries because of Defendant’s negligence," reads the petition. The document goes on to detail specific failures such as inadequate maintenance of the vessel and equipment.
As a result of these alleged failures, Agee has suffered severe physical pain, mental anguish, and other medical problems. He claims ongoing physical impairment and mental distress that are likely to continue indefinitely. Additionally, he has experienced loss of earnings both past and future and anticipates incurring further pharmaceutical and medical expenses related to his injuries.
Agee is seeking monetary relief between $250,000.00 and $1,000,000.00 for actual damages including past and future impairment, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost earnings as well as punitive damages for gross negligence. The plaintiff argues that Kirby Inland Marine acted with "flagrant and malicious disregard" for his health and safety by failing to rectify known dangerous conditions.
The legal representation for James Agee includes M. Paul Skrabanek from Pierce Skrabanek PLLC based in Houston, Texas; Kristi A. Post from Blake Jones Law Firm LLC based in New Orleans; both attorneys have filed this case under Case ID 2024-45211 before Judge Wanda Chambers at the 165th Judicial District Court.