Case at a glance
- Recovery: Confidential Settlement
- Injury: Back injuries during an offshore transfer and subsequent work
- Practice: Maritime injuries
- Attorney: Brian Beckcom
An offshore career interrupted by a transfer accident
Frank worked his way up to derrickman through years of offshore service. His work supported his family, and he had spent more than a decade with the same offshore employer.
His injury happened during a personnel transfer in a basket suspended by a crane over the water. The cable slipped and the basket dropped suddenly. Frank suffered a serious back injury.
The case involved the condition of the crane cables used for the transfer. Frank’s claim was that the cables were defective.
Back at work, but not back to his old position
After physical therapy, Frank tried to return to his offshore job. Instead of returning to his previous position, he was assigned to work as a floorhand.
That job required strenuous manual work. Frank was still dealing with back problems, and he injured his back again while performing those duties.
Following the second injury, the company terminated his employment as part of what it described as a reduction in force. Frank had lost both his offshore job and the career he had worked to build.
Brian pursued the maritime injury case
Frank turned to Brian Beckcom and VB Attorneys. Brian represented him in pursuing his claims under the Jones Act and maritime law.
The case addressed the original transfer accident and the circumstances of Frank’s return to physically demanding work. It also addressed what those injuries meant for his ability to continue earning a living offshore.
The team sought records concerning the rig’s port and starboard cranes for the six months before and after the incident. When production remained disputed, Frank’s lawyers asked the court to compel responses. The employer opposed that request, saying the time period was too broad and that it was still obtaining records.
That dispute put the history of the cranes used for offshore transfers directly into the litigation. VB Attorneys continued pursuing Frank’s claims and ultimately negotiated a settlement.
A confidential settlement for Frank
Frank’s case resolved through a confidential settlement. The financial terms are not disclosed.
For Frank, the claim concerned two injuries and the loss of the offshore work he had performed for years. Brian and the team pursued compensation for those consequences rather than leaving him to face them alone.
Frank M., in his own words
Frank M. discusses his experience with VB Attorneys after his offshore injury case. Published October 26, 2014 · 2 minutes 28 seconds. Watch Frank M.’s testimonial on YouTube.
Transcript from video captions; unclear passages marked.
Lightly edited for readability; name abbreviated. Bracketed notes mark wording that could not be verified from the available captions. Times are approximate.
[Frank M.]
[Caption wording unclear at approximately 0:07–0:15.]
I have a little story to tell y’all. I’ve been in [caption wording unclear at approximately 0:18–0:20] for 14 years.
A lot of people get discouraged when you get hurt on rigs out there. And they tell you [caption wording unclear at approximately 0:29–0:38]. That is not true.
You have rights to get you an attorney, to get your case [caption wording unclear at approximately 0:45–0:49].
It gonna be a long, like a process involved. But just be patient. You have to go to your visit and stuff like that. As long as you do everything like that, your lawyer gonna take care of [caption wording unclear at approximately 1:03–1:06].
So don’t ever think that you can never win your case. I’m a living witness right now. You can win your case.
Yes, I’m very pleased with that. I can get another job. I have a lot of guys I work with over the years, and stories I heard on different rigs. The blackball list is a very true story. I feel nobody should be on [caption wording unclear at approximately 1:46–1:50]. And I’m very pleased that I’m off.
This settlement here is a wonderful thing for me right now. I can get a college fund for my kids, start over, get me another job, back to work, and maybe take me a vacation, and move on with my life.
Questions about the case
Related legal help
Learn about maritime injury claims or read about another offshore drilling injury case.
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