Case Results
TOWBOAT ENGINEER INJURED MOVING HEAVY EQUIPMENT
THE FACTS: A towboat engineer injured shoulder and neck when forced to move ultra heavy pumps up and down a stairway.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by showing that the supervisor did not consider the job safety analysis, was not adequately trained in safe handling practices, and failed to utilize proper mechanical means to move heavy equipment.
GANGWAY COLLAPSE
THE FACTS: A tank cleaner fell when a gangway collapsed underneath him, injuring his knee, back, neck, wrist, and eyes.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by showing that the gangway was not properly secured, per company procedures.
CAPTAIN SLIPS DURING HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS
THE FACTS: Vessel Captain slipped on wet, oily product when forced to work in hazardous weather conditions.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by showing that the vessel captain was not properly trained, and his supervisors ignored his calls to Stop Work.
Drillship Electrician Injured Lifting Heavy Equipment
THE FACTS: Drillship Electrician injured shoulder, back and neck when forced to lift ultra heavy equipment.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by showing that the company knew for many years that the activity was unsafe, but failed to implement proper training and procedures to prevent injury.
BNI and URS False Claims Act Allegations
THE FACTS: BNI and URS made false claims regarding deficient nuclear quality procurements at the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) at DOE’s Hanford Site near Richland, Washington.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey negotiated a $125 million settlement.
ARCO Explosion
THE FACTS: Arco cryogenic platform explosion caused by improper cold cut of Southern Natural Gas pipeline.
OUR RESULT: Settlement for the injured and deceased in approximately twelve months.
Drillship Seacrest Capsize
THE FACTS: The drillship Seacrest capsized in the Gulf of Thailand during Typhoon Gay in November of 1989, killing 91 of 97 crew members.
OUR RESULT: As a result of the firm’s efforts, its clients, who were the surviving families of the victims drowned in the catastrophe, recovered millions of dollars in damages.
Penrod MODU Collapse
THE FACTS: Penrod mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) collapsed during a violent and damaging hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.
OUR RESULT: As a result of our firm’s efforts, our clients received millions of dollars in damages from the responsible parties.
Murphy Oil Spill
THE FACTS: Oil storage tank rupture at the Murphy Oil USA refinery in Chalmette, LA following the levee breaches during Hurricane Katrina.
OUR RESULT: $330,000,000.00 settlement and is the fastest class certification and resolution of a case of its type and magnitude to date.
Chinese Drywall
THE FACTS: Drywall imported from China off-gassed sulfurous compounds that ultimately destroyed homes by corroding wiring, HVAC units, plumbing, appliances and other fixtures.
OUR RESULT: After several successful trials, settlement by all but one defendant manufacturer and total damages of over $1,100,000,000.00 in value to homeowners.
M/V Bright Field
THE FACTS: The M/V Bright Field was a loaded cargo ship that lost power on the Mississippi River and slammed into the Riverwalk in New Orleans.
OUR RESULT: Chief Federal District Judge Morey Sear appointed the Lambert Firm to act as Liaison Counsel for the injured individuals and damaged businesses.
Deckhand Injures Back Lifting Transfer Hose
THE FACTS: Deckhand on a push boat injured his back after being instructed to move a transfer hose by hand from one fuel barge to another.
OUR RESULT: Non-confidential settlement of $850,000.00 for the injured deckhand.
Skiff Collision
THE FACTS: Deckhand on a push boat was forced to land a skiff by himself while the push boat was underway.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by showing that the deckhand had no help landing the skiff because the mate was on his cell phone and the pilot was inattentive to radio calls for assistance.
Midstream Transfer Crane Accident
THE FACTS: Utility man was instructed by the crane operator to load the clam-shell with water bottles for the toppers in the hole of the cargo ship. As the utility man placed the bottles in the clam-shell, the crane operator abruptly closed the clam-shell, crushing the utility man’s hand.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey maritime injury lawyers were able to negotiate a settlement with the vessel owner on behalf of the utility man by showing that the crane operator had improperly supervised the utility man, who had not yet been sufficiently trained in working on the river.
Roustabout Injured in Wireline Incident
THE FACTS: Roustabout injured when wireline operator pulled a tool through a shiv, causing the tool and shiv to fall to the drill floor.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey was able to negotiate a settlement of the roustabout’s case despite numerous complexities and other complications.
Tankerman Falls From Icy Ladder Rungs
THE FACTS: A tankerman was ordered to prepare for product transfer on a fuel barge despite icy conditions and fell from the rungs of a push knee where ice had formed on the rungs of the attached ladder.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey’s maritime injury attorneys secured a favorable settlement for the tankerman by showing that the captain was negligent in ordering the tankerman to work in unsafe conditions, that the ladder rungs were improperly designed to prevent slippage, and that the vessel was unseaworthy for failing to maintain appropriate gear and tools to work in icy conditions.
Oiler’s Arm Torn by Cable Jerk
THE FACTS: An Oiler’s arm and shoulder were injured when the cable headline he was attempting to change was jerked from his grasp as the crane barge he was on listed suddenly to one side.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey maritime team successfully settled the case by demonstrating to the vessel owner that the crane operator should have stopped the crane from swinging until the headline was changed.
Welder Injured by Collapsing Ladder
THE FACTS: Welder assigned to a construction and salvage derrick barge and cargo barge flotilla was injured while on an unsecured ladder that collapsed.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey’s offshore injury lawyers successfully resolved the case by arguing that another crewman’s failure to secure the ladder created what is known in admiralty law as a “ transitory unseaworthy condition” for which the vessel owner is liable.
Deckhand’s Shoulder Injured by Cable Jerk
THE FACTS: Deckhand’s shoulder was torn when a cable was jerked from his grasp by an inattentive pilot.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey’s maritime lawyers were able to negotiate settlement by demonstrating to the vessel owner that the entire operation was unsafe, including poor lighting, insufficient training of the crew, poor job planning and an inattentive pilot.
Derrickman Trips On Cable
THE FACTS: A Derrickman on a fixed platform tripped on a cable and injured his back.
OUR RESULT: Although the incident was unreported, as many incidents often are, Lambert Zainey’s offshore injury lawyers were able to demonstrate that the derrickman’s back injury was work-related despite the fact that the derrickman was arguably at fault for not paying attention. Because he was a longshoreman, Lambert Zainey was nevertheless able to negotiate a successful resolution of his claims by showing that the injury was work related.
Coverstacker Has Hand Crushed By Barge Cover
THE FACTS: A coverstacker’s hand was crushed by a barge cover while he was working on the river.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey’s maritime injury lawyers were able to resolve the case favorably for the injured coverstacker by arguing that he was Jones Act seaman and not a Longshoreman.
Roughneck Injures Back Pulling Slips With No Help
THE FACTS: Roughneck injured his back when he was required to pull slips by himself, with no assistance from other floorhands available to help.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey’s offshore injury attorneys resolved the case by arguing that the drilling barge was unseaworthy because it had an insufficient crew to safely trip pipe.
Deckhand Falls Overboard
THE FACTS: Deckhand fell overboard while trying to secure a line.
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey first helped an injured deckhand obtain the maintenance and cure to which he was entitled. Next, we settled the injured deckhand’s case by showing that the barge’s deck lacked an appropriate non-skid surface where one was needed.