Arnold & Itkin LLP recently filed a Jones Act lawsuit against Wright's Well Control, Montco Offshore, and C&C Offshore
Wednesday, April 21 2010 08:25
Arnold & Itkin LLP recently filed a Jones Act lawsuit against Wright's Well Control, Montco Offshore, and C&C Offshore because of the serious injuries their client received offshore of Cameron, Louisiana. Arnold & Itkin LLP's client was working on a plug and abandonment job when the crane operator of a lift boat slammed him to the deck of a supply vessel while the seaman was in a manbasket. The operation was taking place in rough seas and Arnold & Itkin, LLP's client sustained several herniated discs in his neck. The seaman lives in Galveston, Texas and the case was filed in the Galveston County Court at Law.
Arnold & Itkin LLP recently filed a Jones Act personal injury case on behalf of a Norfolk, Virginia tankerman who had his hand crushed
Monday, April 19 2010 08:24
Arnold & Itkin LLP recently filed a Jones Act personal injury case on behalf of a Norfolk, Virginia tankerman. The seaman had his hand crushed and needed three fingers amputated as a result of a line handling accident. Arnold & Itkin LLP's client was working for OSG off the coast of Florida and was being assisted by a Seacor tug at the time. Arnold & Itkin LLP filed the case in state court in Houston, Texas (Harris County). Arnold & Itkin LLP is proud to help its client and his wife get the compensation they deserve for this senseless injury.
Arnold & Itkin LLP Resolved case for $850,000 on behalf of an injured seaman
Monday, April 19 2010 08:15
Arnold & Itkin LLP Jones Act lawyers Jason Itkin, Kurt Arnold, and Cory Itkin successfully resolved a case for $850,000 on behalf of an injured seaman. Arnold & Itkin LLP's client slipped and fell on steps which lacked non-skid tape, hurt his neck, and suffered a concussion. The accident happened on a dive boat offshore of Fourchan, Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. He eventually needed a cervical fusion surgery performed. The defendants argued that he was not entitled to anything because he was taking prescription drugs at the time of the accident. They also argued that he did not injure himself on the boat, but that all his injuries were caused in a serious car accident two weeks later when his vehicle rolled over after Arnold & Itkin LLP's client had allegedly been drinking. Arnold & Itkin LLP's lawyers beat back these charges and stood by their client to obtain the favorable result. The case was pending in Texas state court in Houston, Texas (Harris County).
Arnold & Itkin LLP sues Hercules Offshore for failing to maintain safe working environment during drilling operations.
Wednesday, April 07 2010 09:24
Kurt Arnold sued Hercules Offshore over an injury to a roughneck during drilling operations near Venice, Louisiana. The plaintiff resides in San Jacinto County and had worked for Hercules for over four years. He was injured in inland waters when he was hurt while the crew was being rushed to rack back drilling pipe without adequate personnel. As a result, he blew out a disc in his back in July 2008. Arnold filed the case in Galveston County Court.
Arnold & Itkin LLP resolves injured motorist's back injury claim for $700,000 in trucking accident.
Wednesday, April 07 2010 08:55
Plaintiffs lawyers Kurt Arnold and Paul Skrabank filed suit against an 18 wheeler company on behalf of an injured Louisiana resident following an accident in Orange County. The driver veered into Plaintiff’s lane causing him to contact the barricade during the construction portion of I-10 in Orange County. The Plaintiff sustained a one level injury to his back, which Defendant denied.
After several depositions, the case was set to be tried in March 2010. The case resolved shortly ahead of trial for $700,000.
Arnold & Itkin LLP announces $700,000 settlement for injured pipeline worker
Friday, March 12 2010 11:17
Kurt Arnold filed suit on behalf of a pipeline worker that was injured in the Bay of Campeche off of Mexico. A valve failed causing him severe injury. He continued to work for eighteen months and then left his line of work in part due to his injury. The case was set for a jury trial in Harris County. Ultimately, the case settled confidentially for $700,000 three days before trial.
Arnold & Itkin LLP personal injury attorneys obtain $540,000 judgment on behalf of Plaintiff in injured in car accident
Thursday, February 18 2010 14:23
Arnold & Itkin LLP personal injury attorneys Mike Pierce and Paul Skrabanek obtained a $540,000 judgment on behalf of a Plaintiff involved in a car accident. The case arose out of a rear end collision in Houston, Texas. The Defendant driver worked for Kilgore Mechanical, and the jury returned a verdict against the driver and Kilgore Mechanical. The Plaintiff suffered a neck injury that required her to undergo surgery.
Houston maritime lawyer Mike Pierce of Arnold & Itkin LLP settles fisherman's back injury case for $650,000
Thursday, February 18 2010 12:24
Houston maritime lawyer Mike Pierce of Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully reached a $650,000 settlement on behalf of a crab fisherman injured when a hydraulic system aboard his vessel malfunctioned, causing a crab pot to strike the fishermen. The fisherman suffered nonsurgical injuries to his lower back. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
Deckhand with neck injury retains Arnold & Itkin LLP for maritime personal injury lawsuit against Cenac Towing Company LLC
Wednesday, February 17 2010 16:23
Brad Nelton, a resident of Oklahoma, has retained Arnold & Itkin LLP to represent him in a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Cenac Towing Company, LLC. On March 22, 2009, Mr. Nelton severely injured his neck when Cenac ordered him to perform his work in an unsafe manner and without proper equipment. At the time of his injuries, Mr. Nelton was a deckhand working aboard the M/V MARIE CENAC.
Despite Mr. Nelton's continuing need of medical treatment, Cenac threatened to terminate his maintenance and cure without justification. As a result, Arnold & Itkin LLP brought a lawsuit on Mr. Nelton's behalf in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Arnold & Itkin LLP obtains $600,000 for maritime worker in un-operated neck injury case
Tuesday, February 16 2010 11:58
Arnold & Itkin LLP maritime lawyers Paul Skrabanek and Kurt Arnold obtained $600,000 on an un-operated neck case. Specifically, the plaintiff was working as a deckhand when he tripped and fell over a large hose lying in the middle of the deck. The plaintiff injured his neck as a result of the fall. The case was settled three months in advance of the trial setting and after only one deposition.
Arnold & Itkin LLP files case on behalf of injured Jones Act seaman against BP and MISWACO in Galveston County
Friday, January 29 2010 02:45
Houston maritime lawyer Kurt Arnold filed a lawsuit on behalf of an injured Jones Act seaman from Cottonport, Louisiana. The injured seaman was employed by MISWASCO and assigned to BP's THUNDERHORSE off the coast of Texas. He was injured on October 22, 2009 as a result of the decision by BP's order to fill tanks full of solid quick seal. As a result, he was injured and herniated 4 discs in his neck. Arnold & Itkin LLP filed suit on his behalf in Galveston County.
Arnold & Itkin LLP wins $1.72 million jury verdict for industrial worker injured in a crane accident - Appeal Pending
Tuesday, January 19 2010 00:00
Arnold & Itkin LLP industrial lawyersCory Itkin and Michael Pierce are pleased to announce a $1.72 million jury verdict on behalf of Ernesto Tamez and his wife. Mr. Tamez was seriously injured in a crane accident at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas on January 18, 2005 when a Maxim Crane Works crane operator negligently swung a heavy oil burner into him. Mr. Tamez was pinned between the burner and a nearby handrail and injured his back, neck, and shoulder. Prior to the trial, Maxim Crane Works made no settlement offer. The company argued that the accident was entirely Mr. Tamez's fault and that his injuries were not as serious as he claimed. They also claimed that some of his injuries could have been caused by simple "wear and tear" on the 60 year old Tamez's body. The case was made more complicated by the fact that Mr. Tamez and his wife do not speak English and had to testify with the aid of a translator. After a week long trial in Galveston, Texas, the jury found that Maxim Crane Works was 100% responsible for the accident and awarded Mr. Tamez and his wife $1.72 million dollars. Arnold & Itkin LLP stood by their clients for 4 years and helped Mr. Tamez get the medical attention he needed and the compensation he deserved. The case was pending in Galveston County, Texas with the Honorable David E. Garner presiding. Appeal Pending
Arnold & Itkin LLP announces $1,200,000 settlement for injured seaman
Friday, December 11 2009 11:09
Houston maritime lawyerKurt Arnold filed suit against a large operator in the Gulf of Mexico on behalf of a floor hand who sustained a neck injury. The plaintiff required neck surgery after a pipe that came loose on an inland drilling barge hit him. The company denied medical care and responsibility for the accident, and refused to pay the injured seaman’s medical bills. The plaintiff attempted to work the issue out with the company for more than a year. When the company refused, he hired Arnold & Itkin LLP who filed suit the very same day in Galveston County Court. The seven-figure settlement was reached within ten months of filing the suit.
Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully resolves production operator’s post-traumatic stress disorder case for $700,000
Tuesday, November 17 2009 14:17
Kurt Arnold and Cory Itkin, maritime lawyers at the Houston-based firm of Arnold & Itkin LLP, successfully resolved a case on behalf of a Houma, Louisiana production operator for $700,000. The firm’s client was near a separator vessel on a production barge when the vessel overpressurized and exploded. He was diagnosed with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD") and barred from returning to work in the oil and gas industry by his doctors. The defendant argued that Arnold & Itkin LLP's client was to blame for the incident and that he was faking his injuries. The accident happened in St. Charles Parish, and the case was filed in Galveston County, Texas. The case settled just 3 days before trial.
Arnold & Itkin LLP files unseaworthiness case against Fugro on behalf of injured seaman
Tuesday, November 17 2009 13:46
Jones Act lawyersKurt Arnold and Paul Skrabanek of Arnold and Itkin LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mario Gonzales, a seaman and long-term employee of Fugro who sustained injuries to his neck and back in a fall that occurred when he slipped on the stern of M/V Fugro Discovery. Several fellow crew members witnessed the fall and reported the accident. Gonzales now suffers chronic back pain and migraine headaches. The 230’ Fugro Discovery, built in 1997 for the Norwegian navy, is now used as a multi-role geophysical and hydrographical survey vessel. At the time of the accident, Fugro Discovery was conducting operations in the Bay of Campeche on behalf of PEMEX, Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company. The lawsuit was filed in Houston, Texas.
Arnold & Itkin LLP files suit on behalf of a victim who suffered a closed head injury while boarding a vessel
Tuesday, November 17 2009 11:01
Houston maritime lawyersKurt Arnold and Paul Skrabanek of Arnold & Itkin LLP recently filed suit on behalf of a maritime worker from Crowley, Texas, who was injured while boarding a vessel owned by Maritech Resources, Inc. The injury occurred when the plaintiff was exiting a Rotorcraft Leasing Co., L.L.C. helicopter and fell upon the vessel’s helideck. The victim sustained a number of injuries in the fall, including a closed head injury that left the worker unconscious for nearly 30 minutes. The injury was caused by the negligence of the defendant's employees, who carelessly left foreign substances on the helideck. The case is currently pending in Galveston County Court.
Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully settles injured offshore platform worker’s shoulder injury case for $770,000
Tuesday, November 10 2009 20:36
Houston maritime lawyerMike Pierce is pleased to announce that he has successfully reached a $770,000 settlement on behalf of a Danos & Curole employee injured while working aboard a Chevron platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The incident occurred when the employee fell down a stairway on the platform, seriously injuring his shoulder. A post-accident investigation revealed that the stairway in question did not have adequate slip protection, and the handrail of the stairway did not meet ANSI standards. The injured worker underwent three surgeries to correct the damage to his shoulder. The case settled three weeks before trial was set to begin in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
Arnold & Itkin LLP files suit for shrimp boat crew member denied maintenance and cure benefits
Tuesday, November 10 2009 16:10
Maritime lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP filed suit in Galveston County on behalf of an injured shrimp boat crew member. Arnold & Itkin LLP's client lives in Ft. Worth, Texas and contracted a dangerous staph infection on his dominant hand. He was working for Trico Shrimp Company out of Freeport, Texas (Brazoria County). Unfortunately, the company refused to pay any maintenance or cure. Arnold & Itkin LLP is proud to help this seaman get the medical attention he needs so he can hopefully regain full use of his hand.
Arnold & Itkin LLP files Jones Act claim on behalf of 13-year employee denied basic maintenance and cure benefits
Sunday, November 08 2009 15:04
Jones Act lawyers Kurt Arnold and Paul Skrabanek of Arnold & Itkin LLP recently filed suit against Ensco International (NYSE: ESV) and Cameron (NYSE: CAM) on behalf of a long-term Ensco employee who was injured onboard one of the company's offshore jack-up rigs. The employee, a Jones Act seaman from Deridder, La., sustained a neck injury while following the instructions of a Cameron man on the rig. The unfortunate situation was made worse when the seaman’s neck was reinjured due to Ensco’s negligence. A loyal employee of longstanding, the plaintiff resisted suing Ensco over the neck injury, but when the company terminated his maintenance and cure benefit despite clear recognition that the injury required neck surgery, he was left with little choice. In the Unites States, admiralty law dictates that it is every shipowner's duty to provide maintenance and cure to crew members who are injured while in service to their vessel.
The case is filed in Harris Country District Court, with the Honorable Patricia Hancock presiding.
Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully settles an injured offshore platform worker’s back surgery case for $1.75 million
Wednesday, October 21 2009 12:08
Houston maritime lawyersJason Itkin and Kurt Arnold are pleased to announce that they have won a $1.75 million settlement for an employee of Wood Group who was injured in an offshore crane accident. The incident occurred aboard an offshore platform when a crane operator caused the boom crane he was operating to jerk. Without warning, the crane struck the firm’s client in the face, knocking him off the railing he was standing on. In the fall, the plaintiff herniated a disc in his back, which ultimately required lumbar fusion surgery. The worker also had post concussion symptoms related to being struck in the head. The case was litigated in the federal court for the Southern District of Texas. It settled 2 weeks before trial.
Arnold & Itkin LLP reaches partial settlement of $1,050,000 for industrial worker suffering a back injury
Thursday, October 01 2009 10:59
Houston industrial injury lawyersJason Itkin, Kurt Arnold, and Mike Tilton are pleased to announce they have reached a partial settlement of $1,050,000 for a client who suffered a herniated disk in a crane collapse industrial accident. The horrific incident occurred when the cab of a crawler crane sheared away from the crane’s base forcefully ejecting the terrified occupant. The crane operator was lucky to survive. Because the workers’ compensation carrier refused the injury claim and would not pay the plaintiff’s medical bills, Arnold & Itkin LLP helped their client survive during the pendency of the lawsuit. The firm’s innovative approach to establishing liability and circumventing the workers’ compensation bar allowed the plaintiff to recover a substantial award. The rest of the case is set for trial in April 2010.
Maritime Lawyers at Arnold & Itkin reached a confidential settlement on behalf of a Jones Act seaman who contracted a bacterial infection while in service to a pleasure craft
Wednesday, September 16 2009 13:55
Jason Itkin and Mike Pierce, maritime lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP, are pleased to announce they have reached a confidential settlement on behalf of a Jones Act Seaman who contracted a bacterial infection while in service to a pleasure craft. The infection rendered the injured crew member paralyzed for more than a year. Thankfully, through the advances in medicine, Arnold & Itkin LLP's client can now walk and the settlement will ensure that the Plaintiff will be able to pay his future medical bills, which will likely exceed 2 million dollars. The settlement also will provide the Seaman with money to compensate him for his pain and suffering.
Arnold & Itkin LLP settles Louisiana Jones Act Seaman's case for $2,500,000 for orthopedic injuries
Friday, September 11 2009 15:13
Kurt Arnold represented a Louisiana Jones Act Seaman who was injured on a drilling barge operating in Louisiana inland waters. Arnold & Ikin LLP filed suit in a Galveston County court. The Defendant attempted to transfer the Jones Act case to Harris County but lost in both the trial and appellate courts on the change of venue issue. The Jones Act Seaman sustained injuries which necessitated neck and back surgery. The case was set for trial in a Galveston County Court. Arnold & Itkin LLP maritime lawyer, Kurt Arnold, helped the plaintiff reach a satisfactory settlement, before trial, in the amount $2,500,000.
Truck Accident Lawyers from Arnold & Itkin LLP File Suit on Behalf of Man Struck by an 18-wheeler Truck
Tuesday, August 25 2009 17:31
Truck accident lawyersKurt Arnold and Paul Skrabanek filed suit on behalf of a man struck by an 18-wheeler truck owned by JP Steel LLC. The plaintiff was driving near Brookshire, Texas when the truck driver made an illegal turn and struck the plaintiff head on. The incident required that the plaintiff be airlifted from the scene and ultimately required that he have five screws implanted in his severely injured legs. Unfortunately, the plaintiff also suffered injuries to his chest and lungs. The suit is pending in Harris County, Texas.
Industrial Injury Lawyers from Arnold & Itkin LLP and The Wyly Law Firm Recover $875,000 for a Severely Burned Worker
Tuesday, August 25 2009 15:17
Industrial injury lawyersKurt Arnold and Paul Skrabanek from Arnold & Itkin LLP and Brad Wyly from the Wyly Law Firm recovered $875,000 for a worker who suffered catastrophic burns to his head and body. The settlement was recovered from a major oil company and fuel delivery company. Suit arose because the delivery company and oil company delivered diesel fuel to the worker's jobsite that was contaminated with gasoline. That type of contamination renders the diesel fuel extremely volatile. Consistent with that, the worker went to check the diesel level and the diesel ignited engulfing the worker in flames. The suit was pending in the 125th District Court in Harris County, Texas before judge Kyle Carter.
Truck Accident Lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP Settle Commercial Trucking Case for $935K
Arnold & Itkin LLP's clients suffered herniated discs when an 18-wheeler truck slammed into a sedan driven by the plaintiff. Arnold & Itkin LLP claimed that the driver of the semi-truck caused the accident when she went straight in a "turn only" lane. Even though the plaintiff was cited by police for the accident, Arnold & Itkin LLP were able to show that the defendants were at fault by tracking down several eye witnesses who blamed the driver of the semi-truck for causing the accident.
