After an offshore rigger was injured while working on a platform off the Louisiana coast, he sought Arnold & Itkin's help with his case. The man, from Thibodaux, Louisiana, suffered serious back and knee injuries after falling down a dangerous set of steps on the platform. Though there is always some assumed risk in offshore jobs, employers are still required to maintain a safe workplace for all ...
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On December 11, the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) boosted the previous liability limit on oil spills from $75 million to $134 million. This came four years after the tragic Deepwater Horizon incident, which served to prove just how pricey major oil spills can be. Currently, companies are required under the law to pay for the clean-up after a spill; the new boosted ...
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Work aboard commercial fishing vessels can be extremely dangerous. In fact, a new research study from Oregon State University compiled data regarding injuries aboard vessels operating off the Alaskan coast. It was found that nearly half of injuries that occurred aboard commercial freezer-trawlers and approximately a quarter of injuries sustained aboard freezer-longliner vessels were linked to the ...
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One worker was killed and at least three other workers were injured when an offshore oil rig exploded on Thursday afternoon. The Echo Platform oil rig, which was operated by the Houston-based Fieldwood Energy, exploded around 3pm about 12 miles off the coast of New Orleans. The injured workers are being treated at a nearby medical facility onshore. All of the injured and deceased workers were ...
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Attorneys Kurt Arnold and Kyle Findley successfully settled a case on behalf of our clients for $1.5 million. Our firm was representing a California seaman who had been employed aboard an offshore vessel in the Gulf of Mexico; after an electrical explosion, our client sustained serious burns to his arm, neck, and face. Six months into litigation, the seaman passed away due to pulmonary embolism. ...
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Arnold & Itkin LLP recently represented a Jones Act seaman who was injured while working aboard a drilling barge off the coast of Louisiana. Our client was a 27-year-old deckhand from Florida who had been hurt when the crewmembers of the barge had been performing a blind lift. Our client was struck on the head and in the face by a pipe, which knocked him unconscious and caused him to fall several ...
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It's no secret that mariners make up some of the most dangerous careers around the world. They face a wide range of life-threatening possibilities on every voyage, and injuries at sea are not uncommon. Some of the most important tools that offshore workers can use to prevent or reduce damage include the safety gear that they take and/or use on each voyage. Life jackets are essential to every ...
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The oil and gas industry is constantly growing in the U.S., and one of the biggest hubs of activity and growth is the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 23% of America's crude oil production, along with 7% of natural gas. New wells are constantly being researched, providing an opportunity for those ...
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While most people know that personal injuries are often eligible for compensation, some may not know that certain circumstances change the laws applicable to these claims. When an injury occurs on water, it can fall under the jurisdiction of the Jones Act and other maritime laws. Crewmen of tug boats, riverboats, barges, and tankers, as well as passengers, can be injured in a number of ways while ...
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Open waters present many inherent dangers to those sailing them, but one often overlooked danger is the risk involved in transferring crewmembers to and from a vessel. Whether a person is being removed from a ship during an emergency or they are simply starting a work shift, personnel moves can happen in a number of ways, all of which come with potential hazards. Helicopters can often be used on ...
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On Monday at approximately 10:46 p.m., 2 vessels (a 52-foot towing vessel named Delta Amber and a 26-foot dredging vessel named Nicholas) sunk in Mobile Ship Channel, just north of Gaillard Island. The crew of Miss Sammy Lee reported the incident to the U.S. Coast Guard and were responsible for rescuing the crews of both sunken vessels. Later, the crewmembers of Delta Amber and Nicholas were ...
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The offshore injury attorneys at Arnold & Itkin filed a lawsuit on behalf on a Louisiana resident who was injured while working on a drill ship. The plaintiff suffered severe injuries to his wrist after being instructed to repair an oxygen line on the drill ship using the wrong equipment and parts. As a result of the injuries, the plaintiff has had multiple surgeries and has been unable to return ...
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The pirate attack of the Maersk Alabama in 2009 was the first time a U.S. vessel had been captured by pirates since the early 19 th century. The highly publicized incident involving the capture of a cargo ship by Somali pirates raised questions as to the liability of companies in the event of a pirate attack. In a currently pending lawsuit, several crewmembers of the vessel are seeking ...
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Congress approved the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Clarification Act on July 29, 2014 in an effort to elaborate on insurance coverage for employees who work in the recreational vessel repair industry. The legislation clarifies what is considered a "recreational vessel," helping business owners and employers to determine whether they should provide general state workers compensation or ...
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On Wednesday afternoon, Arnold & Itkin, LLP maritime attorney Noah Wexler recently filed a lawsuit against Gulf Oceanic Marine Contractors. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Louisiana resident who was employed by the defendant. While working as a deckhand on a tug boat, the plaintiff slipped down a flight of stairs and suffered injuries to his neck, back and shoulder. Having already received ...
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Arnold & Itkin recently won a $2.25 million settlement for an offshore worker who was hurt off the cost of Louisiana. The settlement will guarantee that his medical and financial expenses will be covered going forward. Our client worked as an operator. While performing maintenance during his second hitch, he was shocked and knocked unconscious. When he fell, our client suffered a severe neck ...
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On Monday afternoon, a privately owned shrimp boat ("Mr. Anthony") capsized near Baytown in Cedar Bayou. According to the most recent reports, the overturning of the boat occurred just three miles from the Fred Hartman Bridge and was reported to the U.S. Coast Guard at approximately 3:30 p.m. Currently, search crews are working from boats and helicopter alike in an effort to search for one ...
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Several months ago after having its appeal of the settlement agreement rejected by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, BP made its intention known that the company would take its appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. On Friday, August 2 nd , BP officially filed its petition with the United States Supreme Court. The petition asks the Supreme Court to dismantle the current settlement agreement ...
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The attorneys at Arnold & Itkin recently represented a mother whose son was killed in a crane accident while working offshore. The case involved approximately 20 depositions and was fought in state and federal court, as well as appellate courts, by Attorneys Cory Itkin and Kurt Arnold . The case was hard fought, as the defendants contended that they were not at fault for the incident, diverting ...
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Arnold & Itkin, LLP offshore lawyers recently filed a maritime case on behalf of a Louisiana man who seriously injured in a basket transfer. The worker was being transferred from a SEACOR liftboat to a crew boat when the crane operator slammed the personnel basket onto the deck of the crew boat. The worker injured his back and other parts of his body in the process. Personnel basket transfers are ...
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Arnold & Itkin has recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of an American seaman who was injured aboard the Stena Forth, a class 3 drill ship capable of drilling in depths of up to 10,000 ft. The plaintiff suffered multiple injuries to his body – including a knee injury – when he slipped and fell down a flight of stairs on the drill ship. The lawsuit seeks damages for medical expenses, lost current and ...
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Arnold & Itkin is proud to announce that we have recently been successful in helping a single family who lost their loved one after a tragic offshore accident. Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin, and Cory Itkin of our firm all worked together to represent the family in what turned out to be a record-setting case. We were able to successfully secure a $29 million settlement on behalf of our ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
When working offshore, crewmembers are transported on and off vessels and platforms in a variety of manners, including by personnel basket transfer. Unfortunately, serious accidents can occur when standard practices, procedures and safety protocols are not followed. Seamen and other offshore workers are often injured in falls, drops, and collisions while being transferred in personnel baskets. ...
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In a recent case, Injury Attorneys Caj Boatright and Kurt Arnold helped to represent a boat captain who had suffered injuries to his neck and back after his vessel had sunk in rough seas. After the vessel he was piloting began to sink, he attempted to ensure his crew was able to successful abandon shop and float safely on the life rafts, which is when he injured himself. In the wake of the ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
On April 21, 2010, the Gulf of Mexico was made victim to an incident which has left it unchanged since. The Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill has left permanent marks on the ecosystem, lifestyle and economy of the gulf coast. Four years after what has been deemed as the worst offshore oil incident in the country, results of federal investigations have revealed a new light on the ...
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