$900,000 – Right Foot Injury

Award Amount: $900,000

Admiralty

Jones Act – Right Foot Injury

Amount of settlement: $900,000

Injuries alleged: Right Foot Injury

Name of case: Plaintiff v. Island Commuter Services, LLC, et al.

Court/case#: U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, No. C01-1460R

Tried before judge or jury: Jury (settled)

Amount of settlement: $900,000

Date: November 2002

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

Attorney for defendant: Withheld

The Plaintiff was a seaman and first assistant engineer on the T/S DYNACHEM. On January 9, 2000, while he was in the process of disembarking the T/S DYNACHEM via the pilot ladder, the Plaintiff’s feet were compressed between the hull of the T/S DYNACHEM and the bow of the M/V ISLAND COMMUTER 2, which was providing launch services to the T/S DYNACHEM.

The Plaintiff sustained permanent injuries to his right foot, multiple broken bones and nerve damage to his foot resulting in permanent pain and severe restrictions in mobility.

Seabulk, the owner of the T/S DYNACHEM, denied responsibility citing that Arrow Launch arranged for ISLAND COMMUTER 2 to provide launch service to the ship and that ISLAND COMMUTER 2 crushed the Plaintiff’s feet in the process of maneuvering to pick him up from the pilot ladder.

Arrow Launch claimed it chartered the M/V ISLAND COMMUTER 2, which was owned by Island Commuter LLC and denied responsibility for the Plaintiff’s injuries. Island Commuter also denied responsibility for the Plaintiff’s injuries. Island Commuter also denied responsibility for the incident and cited the Plaintiff’s negligence for the cause of his injuries.

The case settled after 2 days of trial for $900,000.