Case Results: Proving Negligence on the Water and on Land
When you choose a law firm, you are hiring for their experience and track record. For over 40 years, Lambert Zainey has built a national reputation by taking on the toughest maritime, industrial, and personal injury cases—often against the largest corporations in the world—and winning.
This Case Results page demonstrates our proven expertise in three core practice areas: The Jones Act and Maritime Law, Industrial Accidents, and Complex Litigation. Every result below reflects our commitment to meticulous investigation, expert legal argument, and securing the maximum compensation our clients deserve.
Lambert Zainey By The Numbers
$1.5+ Billion in Total Recoveries
From individual injury claims to billion-dollar class actions, we secure maximum compensation.
$1.1+ Billion Chinese Drywall Recovery
One of the largest mass tort recoveries in history, protecting thousands of homeowners.
40+ Years of Maritime Law Experience
Four decades of specialized expertise in offshore injury, vessel accidents, and complex admiralty litigation.
200+ Maritime Cases Successfully Resolved
Decades of proven results under the Jones Act, LHWCA, and General Maritime Law.
Appointed as Liaison Counsel in Major Multi-Party Litigation
Recognized by federal courts for our leadership in complex maritime disaster cases including the M/V Bright Field collision and Liftboat Seacor Power capsize.
$330 Million Murphy Oil Spill Settlement
The fastest class certification and resolution of a case of its type and magnitude to date.
MARITIME & OFFSHORE INJURY CLAIMS
These results reflect our specialized expertise in the Jones Act, LHWCA, Unseaworthiness, and General Maritime Law. We know the rules of the water, and we hold vessel owners accountable.
FEATURED MARITIME RESULTS (Verdicts & Major Settlements)
Penrod MODU Collapse
OUR RESULT: Clients received millions of dollars in damages from the responsible parties.
THE FACTS: Penrod mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) collapsed during a violent and damaging hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.LEARN MORE: Penrod MODU Collapse Page
Legal Focus: Gross Negligence | Hurricane Preparedness Failures | Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Safety | UnseaworthinessDrillship Seacrest Capsize
OUR RESULT: Surviving families of the victims drowned in the catastrophe recovered millions of dollars in damages.
THE FACTS: The drillship Seacrest capsized in the Gulf of Thailand during Typhoon Gay in November of 1989, killing 91 of 97 crew members.LEARN MORE: Drillship Seacrest Capsize Page
Legal Focus: Catastrophic Vessel Casualty | General Maritime Law | Storm-Related Vessel Safety | Wrongful DeathLiftboat Seacor Power Capsize
OUR RESULT: Hugh “Skip” Lambert was appointed co-lead liaison counsel for the litigation by the court. Lambert Zainey’s efforts helped those on board the Seacor Power and the surviving families of the victims recover millions of dollars in damages.
THE FACTS: The liftboat Seacor Power capsized in the Gulf of Mexico during a storm on April 13, 2021, killing 13 of the 19 maritime workers on board.
LEARN MORE: Liftboat Seacor Power Capsize PageLegal Focus: Catastrophic Vessel Casualty | Court-Appointed Liaison Counsel | General Maritime Law | Liftboat | Multi-Party Litigation | Storm-Related Vessel Safety | Wrongful DeathDeckhand Injures Back Lifting Transfer Hose
OUR RESULT: Non-confidential settlement of $850,000.00 for the injured deckhand.
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.Legal Focus: Employer Failure to Provide Proper Equipment | Jones Act Negligence | Lack of Mechanical Assistance | Manual Material Handling Violations
Gangway, Ladder, and Deck Accidents
Captain Injured After Slipping on Tugboat
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by showing the company failed to provide non-skid paint to the captain.
THE FACTS: The captain of a tugboat injured his neck and back when he slipped and fell on the deck of his vessel.Legal Focus: Deck Maintenance Failures | Inadequate Non-Skid Surfaces | Jones Act Negligence | Slip and Fall on Vessel | Tugboat Operations | UnseaworthinessVessel Captain Slips in Hazardous Weather
OUR RESULT: Successfully resolved the case by showing that the vessel captain was not properly trained, and his supervisors ignored his calls to Stop Work.
THE FACTS: Vessel Captain slipped on wet, oily product when forced to work in hazardous weather conditions.Legal Focus: Deck Safety Violations | Hazardous Working Conditions | Inadequate Weather Safety Protocols | Jones Act Negligence | Supervisor Failure to Heed Stop Work OrdersDeckhand Falls Overboard
OUR RESULT: Settled the injured deckhand’s case by showing that the barge’s deck lacked an appropriate non-skid surface where one was needed. (First secured Maintenance and Cure benefits).
THE FACTS: Deckhand fell overboard while trying to secure a line.Legal Focus: Deck Safety Violations | Inadequate Non-Skid Surfaces | Maintenance and Cure Benefits | UnseaworthinessWelder Injured by Collapsing Ladder on Crane Barge
OUR RESULT: Successfully resolved the case by arguing that another crewman’s failure to secure the ladder created a “transitory unseaworthy condition” for which the vessel owner is liable.
THE FACTS: Welder assigned to a construction and salvage derrick barge was injured while on an unsecured ladder that collapsed.Legal Focus: Co-Worker Negligence | Construction Barge Safety | Improper Equipment Securing | UnseaworthinessTankerman Falls From Icy Ladder Rungs
OUR RESULT: Secured a favorable settlement 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.
THE FACTS: A tankerman fell from the rungs of a push knee where ice had formed after being ordered to prepare for product transfer despite icy conditions.Legal Focus: Defective Ladder Design | Employer Failure to Provide Proper Equipment | Inadequate Weather Safety Protocols | Jones Act Negligence | UnseaworthinessTank Cleaner Injured in Gangway Collapse
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by showing that the gangway was not properly secured, per company procedures.
THE FACTS: A tank cleaner fell when a gangway collapsed underneath him, injuring his knee, back, neck, wrist, and eyes.Legal Focus: Company Procedure Violations | Improper Equipment Securing | LHWCA Claims | Vessel Owner NegligenceDeckhand Falls Off Forward Edge of Barge
OUR RESULT: $550,000 settlement for the injured deckhand.
THE FACTS: An injured deckhand offshore fell off the forward edge of a barge in tow.Legal Focus: Barge Edge Safety | Fall Overboard Prevention | Inadequate Railings or Safety Equipment | Jones Act Negligence | Towboat/Pushboat | Unseaworthiness
Lifting, Overexertion, and Insufficient Crew Injuries
Coverstacker Has Hand Crushed By Barge Cover
OUR RESULT: Resolved the case favorably by arguing that he was a Jones Act seaman and not a Longshoreman.
THE FACTS: A coverstacker’s hand was crushed by a barge cover while he was working on the river.Legal Focus: Barge Cover Safety | Hand and Crush Injuries | River Operations | Seaman Status LitigationRoughneck Injures Back Pulling Slips With No Help
OUR RESULT: Resolved the case by arguing that the drilling barge was unseaworthy because it had an insufficient crew to safely trip pipe.
THE FACTS: Roughneck injured his back when he was required to pull slips by himself, with no assistance from other floorhands available to help.Legal Focus: Drilling Barge Operations | Lack of Adequate Personnel | Pipe Tripping Safety | UnseaworthinessElectrician Injured Moving Heavy Equipment on Drillship
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by showing the company failed to utilize proper mechanical means to move heavy equipment around the drillship.
THE FACTS: An electrician was injured on a drillship when he was forced to move ultra heavy VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives) throughout the vessel.Legal Focus: Drillship | Inadequate Lifting Equipment | Jones Act Negligence | Lack of Mechanical Assistance | Manual Material Handling Violations | VFD Equipment SafetyDrillship Electrician Injured Lifting Heavy Equipment
OUR RESULT: 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.
THE FACTS: Drillship Electrician injured shoulder, back and neck when forced to lift ultra heavy equipment.Legal Focus: Failure to Implement Safety Procedures | Inadequate Training Programs | Jones Act Negligence | Long-Term Knowledge of Unsafe Practices | Repetitive Lifting InjuriesTowboat Engineer Injured Moving Heavy Equipment
OUR RESULT: Successfully resolved the case by showing that the supervisor did not consider the job safety analysis and failed to utilize proper mechanical means to move heavy equipment.
THE FACTS: A towboat engineer injured his shoulder and neck when forced to move ultra heavy pumps up and down a stairway.Legal Focus: Failure to Conduct Job Safety Analysis | Improper Manual Lifting Requirements | Jones Act Negligence | Lack of Mechanical Assistance | Supervisor Training DeficienciesMariner Injured in Botched Personnel Basket Transfer
OUR RESULT: $1,375,000 settlement for the injured mariner.
THE FACTS: An offshore mariner suffered serious neck and back injuries during a botched personnel basket transfer between two vessels.Legal Focus: Inadequate Transfer Procedures | Jones Act Negligence | Neck and Back Injuries | Offshore Crew Transfer Protocols | Personnel Basket Transfer Operations | Vessel-to-Vessel Transfer Safety
Inattentive Crew and Equipment Failures
Derrickman Trips On Cable
OUR RESULT: 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. Negotiated a successful resolution of his claims.
THE FACTS: A Derrickman on a fixed platform tripped on a cable and injured his back (incident was initially unreported).Legal Focus: Cable Tripping Hazards | Fixed Platform Safety | LHWCA Claims | Unreported Incident Documentation | Work-Related Injury DeterminationRoustabout Injured in Wireline Incident
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey was able to negotiate a settlement of the roustabout’s case despite numerous complexities and other complications.
THE FACTS: Roustabout injured when wireline operator pulled a tool through a shiv, causing the tool and shiv to fall to the drill floor.Legal Focus: Drill Floor Accidents | Falling Tool Hazards | Jones Act Negligence | Wireline Operations SafetyDeckhand's Shoulder Injured by Cable Jerk
OUR RESULT: Successfully settled the case 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.
THE FACTS: Deckhand’s shoulder was torn when a cable was jerked from his grasp by an inattentive pilot.Legal Focus: Inadequate Lighting | Inadequate Training Programs | Inattentive Pilot | Jones Act Negligence | Poor Job PlanningOiler's Arm Torn by Cable Jerk
OUR RESULT: 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.
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.Legal Focus: Cable Handling Safety | Crane Barge | Crane Operator Error | Equipment Change Procedures | Jones Act NegligenceMidstream Transfer Crane Accident (Hand Crushed)
OUR RESULT: Negotiated a settlement by showing that the crane operator had improperly supervised the utility man, who had not yet been sufficiently trained in working on the river.
THE FACTS: Utility man’s hand was crushed when the crane operator abruptly closed the clam-shell while the man was loading water bottles.Legal Focus: Crane Operator Error | Inadequate Training and Supervision | Jones Act Negligence | Midstream Transfer Operations | New Worker SafetySkiff Collision
OUR RESULT: 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.
THE FACTS: Deckhand on a push boat was forced to land a skiff by himself while the push boat was underway.Legal Focus: Cell Phone Use While On Duty | Communication Failures | Inadequate Communication and Lockout | Inadequate Skiff Landing Assistance | Inattentive Crew MembersShipyard Worker Caught in Closing Hatch Cover
OUR RESULT: $440,000 settlement for the injured shipyard worker.
THE FACTS: A shipyard worker was caught in a closing hatch cover aboard a towing vessel, injuring his neck.Legal Focus: Caught-Between Hazards | Hatch Cover Operations | Inadequate Communication and Lockout | LHWCA Claims | Shipyard Worker Safety | Towing Vessel MaintenanceMariner Injured During Botched Personnel Basket Transfer
OUR RESULT: Non-confidential settlement of $1,375,000 for the injured mariner.
THE FACTS: Mariner offshore suffered serious neck and back injuries during a botched personnel basket transfer between two vessels.Legal Focus: Failure to Use a Safe Transfer Method | Jones Act Negligence | Unseaworthiness
Vessel Collision and Allision Cases
Commercial Fisherman Injured When Run Over By Tugboat
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case by proving the tugboat crossed the fishing vessel’s location using AIS tracking data, and that the captain failed to stop and render aid, report the incident, or contact the Coast Guard following the allision.
THE FACTS: Two Commercial Fishermen injured their shoulders, back, and neck when they were run over by a tug boat and its tow in the middle of the night while anchored in the Gulf of Mexico.Legal Focus: AIS Tracking Evidence | Allision | Coast Guard Reporting Violations | Commercial Fishing | Failure to Render Aid | Jones Act Negligence | Nighttime Navigation Negligence
International Maritime Incidents and Government Liability
Electricians Injured When Research Vessel Tips Over in Dry Dock in Scotland
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case under the Public Vessels Act, securing compensation for both electricians injured in this overseas incident.
THE FACTS: Two Electricians injured their neck, back, and shoulder when a government-owned research vessel tipped over while dry docked in Scotland.Legal Focus: Dry Dock Accidents | Government Liability | International Maritime Jurisdiction | Overseas Injury Claims | Public Vessels Act | Research Vessel Operations
ENVIRONMENTAL & COMPLEX LITIGATION
These results reflect our extensive experience in complex class action, environmental, and whistleblower litigation, often achieving resolutions of unprecedented magnitude.
BNI and URS False Claims Act Allegations
OUR RESULT: Negotiated a $125 million settlement.
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.LEARN MORE: BNI and URS False Claims Act Allegations Page
Legal Focus: False Claims Act | Government Contracting Fraud | Nuclear Safety | Qui Tam/Whistleblower Litigation
Chinese Drywall Litigation
OUR RESULT: Settlement by all but one defendant manufacturer with total damages of over $1,100,000,000.00 in value to homeowners.
THE FACTS: Drywall imported from China off-gassed sulfurous compounds that ultimately destroyed homes by corroding wiring, HVAC units, plumbing, appliances and other fixtures.LEARN MORE: Chinese Drywall Page
Legal Focus: Construction Defects | International Manufacturing Negligence | Mass Tort Litigation | Products Liability
Murphy Oil Spill
OUR RESULT: $330,000,000.00 settlement. This is the fastest class certification and resolution of a case of its type and magnitude to date.
THE FACTS: Oil storage tank rupture at the Murphy Oil USA refinery in Chalmette, LA following the levee breaches during Hurricane Katrina.Legal Focus: Class Action Litigation | Environmental Law | Hurricane Katrina Aftermath | Property Damage Claims
PERSONAL INJURY & INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Our results on land reflect the same tireless dedication we apply on the water, holding negligent parties and employers accountable for industrial and catastrophic personal injury accidents.
ARCO Explosion
OUR RESULT: Settlement for the injured and deceased in approximately twelve months.
THE FACTS: Arco cryogenic platform explosion caused by improper cold cut of Southern Natural Gas pipeline.LEARN MORE: ARCO Explosion Page
Legal Focus: Cryogenic Operations | Industrial Explosion | Pipeline Safety Violations | Wrongful Death
M/V Bright Field
OUR RESULT: Chief Federal District Judge Morey Sear appointed the Lambert Firm to act as Liaison Counsel for the injured individuals and damaged businesses.
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.LEARN MORE: M/V Bright Field Page
Legal Focus: Complex Personal Injury | Multi-Party Litigation | Shoreside Property Damage | Vessel Power Failure
Premises Liability and Product Defects
Hotel Guest Injured by Defective Stairs
OUR RESULT: $710,000 settlement for the injured hotel guest.
THE FACTS: A hotel guest was injured at a local hotel due to a defective condition with the stairs on the property.Legal Focus: Building Code Violations | Defective Stair Conditions | Hotel/Restaurant | Premises Liability | Property Maintenance Failures | Slip and FallChild's Hand Severed at Restaurant Patio
OUR RESULT: $1,500,000 settlement for the injured child.
THE FACTS: A child’s hand was severed due to a hazardous condition and defective product on the patio of a local restaurant.Legal Focus: Catastrophic Injury to Minor | Defective Equipment | Hazardous Working Conditions | Hotel/Restaurant | Premises Liability | Products Liability | Severe Hand and Amputation Injuries
Aviation Accidents
Passenger Killed in Airplane Crash
OUR RESULT: Lambert Zainey successfully resolved the case within one year without having to file suit against the pilot’s family.
THE FACTS: A passenger was killed in a personal airplane crash as a result of the pilot’s negligence.Legal Focus: Aviation Liability | Aviation Wrongful Death | Personal Aircraft Accidents | Pilot Negligence | Pre-Litigation Settlement
Proving Experience: Why Lambert Zainey?
If you believe your case involves an unseaworthy vessel, an employer’s negligence, or a complex industrial failure, you need a firm with proven results.
Lambert Zainey is the firm you need because we:
Contact us today for a free, confidential review of your case. Your recovery starts with experienced representation.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ATTORNEYS
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