News

• Navigazione Montanari S.p.A. and Pelican Offshore Services settle Jones Act case with mooring master
  According to published reports, the Italian company Navigazione Montanari S.p.A. and Pelican Offshore Services Co. have agreed to a $1,975,000 settlement with an injured mooring master.
• 5th Circuit Upholds 1.2 million dollar Jones Act verdict
  The 5th Circuit, in a per curiam opinion, has upheld a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of a Jones Act seaman.
• Settlement for offshore welder who injured back
  Our firm recently obtained a significant settlement for an offshore welder / mechanic who injured his back while working for Halliburton Energy Services on a Rowan Company jack-up oil rig.
• Jones Act & Maritime Injury Claims Book
  We are pleased to announce the upcoming publication of an insider's look at Jones Act & Maritime Injury Claims.
  
  This is the book the insurance companies DO NOT WANT you to read.
  
  Stay tuned for more details.
• Lawsuit Filed Against Blessey Marine Under the Jones Act
  The widow of a worked killed working for Blessey Marine has filed a Jones Act wrongful death case against the company
• Houston Maritime Death - Man Killed While Loading Ship
  Houston Man Killed While Loading a Commercial Ship
• Hoosier Marine Hit With Lawsuit By Injured Worker
  An injured employee has sued Hoosier Marine under the Jones Act and general maritime law for injuries he sustained in the course of his employment. The lawsuit is brought under the Jones Act and general maritime law.
• Injured Galleyhand Sues Universal Sodexho and Rowan Under Jones Act
• Worker Sues Diamond Offshore for exposure to hazardous chemicals
  A long-time employee of Diamond Offshore has brought claims against the company for exposing him to hazardous chemicals on the job
• Worker Sues Pride Offshore For Forcing Him to Work In An Unsafe Position

Navigazione Montanari S.p.A. and Pelican Offshore Services settle Jones Act case with mooring master

According to published reports, Pelican Offshore Services and Navigazione Montanari S.p.A. of Italy have settled a Jones Act lawsuit brought by an injured mooring master.

The settlement is reported as being $1,975,000. 

The reports indicate that the injured mooring master was hurt off the coast of Corpus Christi while on board the M/V VALTAMED.  He was participating in offloading operations while the vessel was lightering.

The injury occurred when the operator of the crane hoisted up and back on the crane's hook while it was still attached to the side rail.  The rail broke and a metal bar flew across the deck and hit the mooring master.

The mooring master suffered a closed head injury, double vision, eye fractures, headaches, and other associated injuries.

The defendants denied all the allegations.

The ship was owned by Navigazione Montanari S.p.A. of Italy and the crane operator was employed by that company.

The crane operator had not been certified or trained to operate cranes.

The case was styled Bryan D. Wise v. Pelican Offshore Services and was pending in Jefferson County, Texas, Judge Milton Shuffield presiding.

Want to know more about maritime injury cases? 

We strive to provide the best, most professional, and most effective representation to workers in the offshore industry.  We are based in Houston, Texas.  We represent offshore workers all over the world.

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.houstoninjuryaccidentlaw.com

If you want to know more about offshore injury claims, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1.  How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury case

2.  What is the Jones Act?

3.  What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

4.  The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

5.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

6.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

7.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

8.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"

9.  Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

10.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

11.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

12. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

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5th Circuit Upholds 1.2 million dollar Jones Act verdict

Last year, a Houston federal jury returned a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of one of our firm's clients against his Jones Act employer, Penn Maritime. 

Penn Maritime appealed to the Fifth Circuit.

The case was argued on Monday, June 2, 2008 in New Orleans.  On Thursday, June 5, 2008, in a per curiam opinion, the Court upheld every part of the jury's verdict in favor of our firm's client, while reforming the interest calculation.

Congratulations to Arnold & Itkin, our co-counsel, along with appellate counsel at Beck, Redden & Secrest.

Read More About 5th Circuit Upholds 1.2 million dollar Jones Act verdict...

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Settlement for offshore welder who injured back

Our law firm was hired by a Halliburton Energy Services employee to represent him after he suffered a serious back injury while working offshore.

The worker was a mechanic / welder.  He and three other Halliburton workers were working on a jack-up rig owned by Rowan Companies.

They were doing welding work and had called a specialist welding company called Cajun Cutters in to assist.  The welder Cajun Cutters sent to assist did not do his job properly, and as a result, our client suffered a severe back injury.

Our client incurred more than $150,000.00 in medical bills and lost wages. 

We were able to obtain a settlement for him valued at more than $500,000.00 in net recovery to him (complete waiver of the lien and more than $350,000.00 in his pocket.

To read more about maritime law, please visit our firm websites at www.vbattorneys.com or www.themaritimelawyer.com

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Jones Act & Maritime Injury Claims Book

We are pleased to announce the coming publication of a new book written exclusively for people injured offshore.

The working title of the book is "The Complete Guide to Jones Act and Maritime Injury Claims." 

We anticipate the book will be published and ready for shipment in late June or early July 2008.

This is a book that the offshore employers, cruise ship companies, and the insurance companies DO NOT want you to read. 

Why?

Because we expose their tricks and secrets and defenses and provide real, practical advice for winning your injury case.

Stand-by for more details.

Want to know more about offshore injury claims? 

Below are some links to some suggested articles offering helpful tips and advice regarding offshore injury claims.

Click here to read an article with helpful suggestions and tips on how to hire the best lawyer for your offshore injury case.

Curious about the Jones Act?  Click here for a general overview of the Jones Act.

Want to know more about the Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act?  Click here to read the article "What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

Want to know the difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act?  Click here to read about the difference between the two.

What to know the truth about offshore injury cases?  Click here to read The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

Want to know what you should do after an offshore injury to preserve your legal rights?  Click here to read  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

If you are hurt and your employer is giving you a hard time, click here to read "I was injured on the job and my employer is giving me a hard time - What should I do"

Employer trying to get you to give a recorded statement?  Click here to learn the truth about recorded statements and the best way to handle this request.

Thinking about trying to settle your offshore injury case without talking to a lawyer first?  Click here to learn why you can settle some cases yourself but in other cases not having a lawyer may be a TERRIBLE MISTAKE.

Want to know what happens when you file an offshore injury or Jones Act case?  Click here to learn about Filing a Jones Act lawsuit.

Click here to learn about 6 Critical Things you must know if you are Injured At Sea

Your employer may be keeping secrets from you if you are hurt offshore.  Click here to read about The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

Read More About Jones Act & Maritime Injury Claims Book...

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Lawsuit Filed Against Blessey Marine Under the Jones Act

A Jones Act seaman's wife has filed a lawsuit against Blessey Marine, his employer, for the wrongful death of the seaman.

The seaman was killed by lighting on August 2007.  According to the lawsuit, Blessey Marine ordered the man to work outside in inclement weather.  The lawsuit claims that Blessey Marine violated industry standards.  The wife is seeking compensation for the loss of her husband.

What is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act allows injured seaman, or their heirs if they are killed, to bring a lawsuit against their employer. 

To find out more about the Jones Act, please contact our law firm at www.vbattorneys.com by going to the contact section of the main website. 

You can request a free copy of our book, "The Truth About Offshore Injury Cases." 

The book explains offshore injury cases, including Jones Act cases, and explains the entire process of a legal case for an offshore injury or death, including what to do in the early stages of the case, how to handle the insurance companies, whether and when and how to go about hiring a lawyer, and what to expect during the case.

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Houston Maritime Death - Man Killed While Loading Ship

Sadly, a crane operator who was loading a commercial ship in Houston was killed when the load fell on top of him.

The crane operator  was loading a large barge onto the ship when the crane snapped. 

Our sympathies go out of the family.

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Hoosier Marine Hit With Lawsuit By Injured Worker

An employee of Hoosier Marine has sued the company, claiming that he was injured when he fell from a 15-foot pile of cover tops on a barge. 

According to the lawsuit, Hoosier Marine was negligent in failing to adequately train the employee and also in failing to provide a safe place to work.

The case is filed under the Jones Act and general maritime law.

The Jones Act and general maritime law protect "seaman" against negligence, unseaworthiness, and other carelessness and recklessness of their employers and possibly others involved in offshore work. 

Unlike many state law legal claims, the Jones Act can be very favorable to injured seaman.

However, the Jones Act and general maritime law is very complicated.  Most lawyers have never handled and will never handle a Jones Act or offshore injury case.  So if you choose to pursue a Jones Act or general maritime law claim, choose your lawyer carefully.

Protect Your Legal Rights

Injured offshore?  Interested in protecting your legal rights?  If so, feel free to call us for a free, no-obligation consulation about the Jones Act, general maritime law, and your case. 

Or, visit our websites to learn more about your legal rights and what we can do for you:

www.vbattorneys.com
www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com
www.themaritimelawyer.com

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Injured Galleyhand Sues Universal Sodexho and Rowan Under Jones Act

The Southeast Texas Record is reporting on on our firm's Jones Act cases, Paul Perronne v. Universal Sodexho and Rowan.

For more information, please contact Brian Beckcom at 713.224.7800, or toll free at 877.724.7800, or visit one of the firm's websites:

www.vbattorneys.com
www.themaritimelawyer.com
www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

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About the firm

Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. is a firm of board certified personal injury trial lawyers who handle serious injury and death cases, as well as business and insurance cases, on a contingency fee basis.  The firm has a substantial docket of Jones Act and maritime injury cases.

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Worker Sues Diamond Offshore for exposure to hazardous chemicals

Press Release - For Immediate Release

Houston, Texas - September 9, 2007

The Houston-based law firm of Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. has been hired to represent a long-time worker of Diamond Offshore for claims of personal injury under the Jones Act.

The claim alleges that the worker was exposed to extremely hazardous chemicals without any personal protective gear. As a result, the worker is no longer able to work in the sun due to extreme photosensitivity.

About the Firm

Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. is a Houston-based law firm that handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases in Houston, Texas and across the nation. The firm has an active docket of maritime injury and death cases as well as Jones Act cases.

To learn more about the firm, please visit the firm's main website at www.vbattorneys.com or its dedicated maritime and Jones Act website, www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com.


Or call the firm toll free at 877.724.7800.

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Worker Sues Pride Offshore For Forcing Him to Work In An Unsafe Position

A worker recently filed a lawsuit under the Jones Act, claiming that his Jones Act employer, Pride Offshore, forced him to work in a dangerous position, work on poorly designed ship valves that were improperly maintained, and work on valves that were placed in the wrong position to begin with.

Jones Act employers are not allowed to place their workers in positions that are likely to cause injury. If a worker is injured, he or she can hold the employer liable for negligence under the Jones Act.

Likewise, a Jones Act employer/shipowner is required to keep its ships "seaworthy." That means that if the ship and her equipment is not reasonably fit for their intended purpose, the Jones Act employer/shipowner may be held responsible under the general maritime law doctrine of "unseaworthiness."

Have a Jones Act or Offshore Injury Question?

If you have been injured offshore, or you have a family member who has been injured or killed offshore, you can call the maritime accident attorneys at our law firm toll free at 877.724.7800.

You will speak to one of the firm's board certified personal injury lawyers directly. We will answer your questions and try to help you and your loved ones in whatever way we can.

About the Author

Brian Beckcom is a Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer who has handled hundreds of Jones Act cases, maritime accident and injury cases, and other serious personal injury and wrongful death matters. You can read more about his firm by visiting the firm's main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Mr. Beckcom is the author of more than 50 articles in the field of maritime law. He is regularly asked to represent injured offshore workers and their families.

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Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C
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Phone: 713.224.7800
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