Campbell Transportation Company is facing a new Jones Act lawsuit, stating a crewman suffered serious injuries on one of their ships and the company allegedly failed to reimburse him.

This Jones Act seaman lawsuit was filed by a man from Pennsylvania, who had reportedly suffered serious work injuries after performing typical occupational duties aboard one of their vessels.

Plaintiff Glenn K. opted to file this Jones Act lawsuit soon after exhausting all other options, and states Campbell Transportation owes him compensation for the injuries he sustained on one of their ships.

Jones Act Lawsuit

The Jones Act seaman complaint states that Glenn had worked as a crew member on the M/V James Morehead, which was owned and operated by Campbell Transportation Company.

During the course of his employment, Glenn says he performed a variety of mechanical duties related to the maintenance of the ship and relied on Campbell Transportation to maintain a safe work environment on each of its vessels. However, Campbell Transportation allegedly failed to do this, and Glenn says this negligence allegedly caused him to suffer serious work injuries.

According to his lawsuit, Glenn had been working on the M/V James Morehead on Sept. 19, 2017, doing routine maintenance on the vessel’s port water pump. More specifically, Glenn says he had been changing the water pump intake pipe and had bent the flex pipe over his knee.

In handling this heavy equipment, Glenn reportedly suffered a serious right shoulder injury in his rotator cuff and a bicep tendon tear. These injuries led Glenn to receive medical care from the Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind., where he was diagnosed and treated by orthopedic physicians.

Glenn says he had to be hospitalized for the injuries in his right arm and ultimately had to undergo surgery. These injuries caused him to miss work and incur massive medical bills, he claims, and Campbell Transportation is accused of failing to compensate him.

Overview of Jones Act Requirements

Also known as the Merchant Marine Act, the Jones Act was passed by Congress in 1920 to help protect seamen who sustained serious injuries while out at sea aboard a ship.

The Jones Act applies to employees considered “seamen,” which generally means they have to spend a significant amount of their work time working aboard a ship or group of ships under common ownership. The Jones Act covers a variety of injuries crew members could suffer including, but not limited to:

• Capsizing
• Collisions
• Fires
• Explosions
• Accidents caused by Rough Waters
• Slips and Falls
• Food Poisoning
• Falling Objects
• Injuries from Maintenance of Construction Work

Crew members who sustain injuries from these incidents or other unfortunate events may be eligible to receive compensation from their respective shipping companies.

Campbell Transportation Company and other shipping companies that own and operate vessels are responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for their employees, including regular maintenance and having sufficient safety regulations.

Crewmen who sustained serious injuries while aboard these ships deserve compensation for any damages they suffered, and they may have a claim under the Jones Act. Glenn is seeking multiple damages in his Jones Act seaman lawsuit, including compensation for all medical bills and missed work.

This Jones Act Seaman Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-01507-JFC, in the U.S. District Court of Western Pennsylvania.