Norris v. Omega Protein, Inc.

Admiralty - Jones Act Claim - 46 U.S.C. s. 688 - Plaintiff, age 37, had his right hand crushed when he attempted to attach a hook to a lifting block while working as a firsherman trainee and ultimately lost four of his fingers. The crane was being operated by the ship's cook because of shortage of hands. Plaintiff medical expenses were $23,000 and he was unable to return to work where he was earning $25,000 annually. Plaintiff alleged that the ship was not seaworthy and that the defendant was negligent in its operation of the ship.

Defendant claimed that the cook as qualified to operate the crane and that the cause of the accident was plaintiff's own negligence.

Settled during trial for $2.6 million.

David Cole, New Orleans, Louisiana, marine safety expert; Peder Melbourg, Richmond, Virginia, vocational rehabilitationist; Sharon Reavis, Richmond, Virginia, life care planner; A..J. McPhate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, mechanical engineer; and Robert Kubelka, crane operations expert, New Orleans, Louisiana

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