Eric Slaughter, a welder, suffered serious burns to his face on an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The job plan called for a team of welders (including Mr. Slaughter) to assist in decommissioning a gas well. After the platform operator gave the go ahead for the hot work to begin, sparks from an attempted weld ignited residual gas deep in the pipe. The result was a fireball that burned Mr. Slaughter’s face and threw him backwards against the platform’s rail.
The Well Owner and Operator Tried to Avoid Responsibility by Claiming Workers Compensation Laws Prevented Slaughter from Recovering Damages
Both the platform operator and well-site owner denied liability, claiming that the independent contractor welders should have looked out for their own safety. The platform operator and well site owner both argued that Mr. Slaughter was limited to a worker’s compensation claim against his employer only and, as a result, could not recover damages from either defendant through a lawsuit.
Frustrated with the companies’ refusal to take responsibility for his injuries, Mr. Slaughter hired Zehl & Associates to pursue a personal injury claim under the maritime law against the platform operator and well site owner.
Through investigation and depositions, the Maritime Lawyers at Zehl & Associates were able to establish that the platform operator negligently failed to comply with the well site owner’s written procedures by failing to take a single gas reading despite being required to do so prior to issuing any hot work permits. When presented with the evidence and testimony, the platform operator and well site owner agreed to settle Mr. Slaughter’s case for a highly favorable (and confidential) amount.
Mr. Slaughter Praised our Maritime Lawyers for Obtaining a Settlement that Exceeded his Expectations
“I could not have asked for a smarter, more committed group of lawyers to work on my case. Eric, Ryan and the Maritime Lawyers at Zehl & Associates made sure I got the best medical treatment I needed. Whenever I had a question, they had an answer. Whenever I needed anything, they were there. These guys are the best.”