Case at a glance
- Recovery: $575,000 Settlement
- Practice: Maritime injury lawyers, Jones Act claims, Offshore oil rig and vessel injuries
- Representation: Brian Beckcom and VB Attorneys.
A different job, without enough help
Buckey’s regular work involved operating a crane. During a labor dispute aboard the vessel, Rowan directed American workers to take on other duties. Buckey’s assignment required him to lift and maneuver heavy cables into position for a crane operation.
The task ordinarily required two workers. Rowan told Buckey to perform it alone. As he tried to hook a cable onto a pallet, he injured his thoracic spine. His back problems eventually ended his offshore career.
Buckey underwent physical therapy, thoracic surgery and lumbar surgery. The injuries left him unable to return to the work that had supported his family.
The medical evidence required a careful distinction
Buckey’s claim presented more than a dispute about staffing. Medical imaging showed damage in his lumbar spine that predated the incident. Brian’s team had to address that history while pursuing the claim for the harm the work caused.
The defense physician provided important testimony. The physician distinguished the earlier lumbar condition from the new injury and testified that the work incident likely aggravated the lumbar damage. That testimony supported an aggravation theory without treating every finding on an MRI as a new injury.
Brian also pursued the evidence concerning Buckey’s assignment and the missing second worker. The claim challenged Rowan’s decision to require him to handle the cables alone and alleged negligence and unseaworthiness.
Continuing the case through bankruptcy
Rowan’s records complicated the investigation. Brian’s team worked through disorganized and incomplete material to reconstruct the circumstances of the assignment and develop the medical evidence.
Rowan’s bankruptcy then interrupted the litigation. Brian’s team obtained relief from the bankruptcy stay and continued negotiations while the company remained in bankruptcy. The parties reached a $575,000 settlement.
The $575,000 settlement resolved Buckey’s Jones Act case after an injury, disputed medical causation and bankruptcy had each created a separate obstacle.
Questions about the case
Related legal help
An injury at sea can affect your work, your treatment and your family. Talk with Brian Beckcom and VB Attorneys about what happened. Call 877-724-7800 for a free consultation.
Related case results
Every case is different. Prior results depend on the facts of the individual case and do not guarantee a similar outcome.