New Filings

SMSH Partner Matthew Shaffer filed four new Jones Act lawsuits in April and May.

Jones Act - New Filings:

1.  Plaintiff injured his back and wrist while setting a giant POD.  Plaintiff climbed up the POD and hurt his back and wrist when the boat rocked.  No safety equipment was provided.

2.  Plaintiff was offloading scrap metal and while on the pier, he slipped and fell 20 feet into the water.  No safety meetings had been held and there was no lighting on site.

3.  Plaintiff was walking downstairs from the second deck to the bottom deck.  He caught his left leg in aluminum trim, causing him to trip and fall to the bottom deck.

4.  Plaintiff fractured his left radial styloid when he tried to lift up the handle of a boom.  The brake fell, the spool went into free-spinning, and his wrist snapped back completely.

FELA - New Filing:

1.  Plaintiff was cutting a tree on the right of way.  He cut one tree and a limb fell from another tree, and struck him on the head and back, knocking him down.  Defendant railroad was negligent in failing to provide the proper equipment, provide professional tree service, provide safe place to work and failing to supervise.