$450,000 – Laceration of Fingers

Award Amount: $450,000

Location: Seattle, Washington

Admiralty

Jones Act – Severe Laceration of Fingers

Amount of settlement: $450,000

Injuries alleged: Severe laceration of index, middle and ring fingers of right hand

Name of case: Plaintiff v. North Cape Fisheries, Inc.

Court/case#: U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, No. C01-958-R

Tried before judge or jury: N/A (settlement)

Amount of settlement: $450,000

Date: July 2002

Attorney for plaintiff: David F. Anderson, Latti & Anderson LLP, Boston

Attorney for defendant: Withheld

On February 7, 2001, the plaintiff was employed as a member of the crew of the F/V NORTH CAPE. The plaintiff alleged that he was ordered back to work after informing the captain that he was sick. In the process of sharpening a blade of a piece of machinery the plaintiff’s index, middle and ring fingers of his right hand were severely amputated. The plaintiff was airlifted off the vessel and ambulanced to a hospital in Seattle where his fingers were re-attached.

The plaintiff subsequently brought claims alleging negligence and unseaworthiness against the F/V NORTH CAPE; specifically that the defendant was negligent in forcing the plaintiff to work when he was sick and that the vessel was unseaworthy in that a dangerous procedure and operation existed for sharpening the blade.

The defendant denied the plaintiff told the captain he was sick and unable to work. Further, the defendant alleged that the plaintiff was negligent in the operation of the fish processing machinery in that the plaintiff was sharpening the blade of the machine after being ordered never to do so resulting in his injuries.

The case settled prior to trial for $450,000.