Case at a glance
- Recovery: Confidential Settlement
- Injury: Neck and back disc injuries
- Practice: Maritime Injury Law
- Attorney: Brian Beckcom
Pipe moving through the V-door
Mitchell’s work involved handling pipe aboard an offshore drilling rig. He alleged that a coworker failed to control the speed of a joint of pipe as it moved through the rig’s V-door. The pipe struck him and threw him onto the floor.
He initially reported a back strain, received pain medication, and returned to work. He left the job approximately two weeks later. The early treatment did not mark the end of the injury.
Later testing showed neck and back injuries
About a month after the incident, Mitchell sought treatment for continuing neck and back pain. MRI testing showed disc injuries in both areas.
Epidural injections did not provide relief. His doctor recommended surgery for his neck and lower back, increasing the significance of the injuries and future care at issue in the case.
The case focused on how the work was performed
Brian represented Mitchell in claims under the Jones Act and the maritime law of unseaworthiness. The allegations addressed the way the pipe-handling operation had been staffed, trained, supervised, and equipped.
Mitchell also challenged whether he had been provided adequate assistance and medical care. The case connected the mechanics of the pipe incident with the injuries documented during later treatment.
A resolution before trial
The parties reached a confidential settlement within ten months of the incident, approximately three weeks before the scheduled trial.
The amount remains confidential. The result closed a case in which an injury initially treated as a back strain developed into a claim involving both the neck and lower back.
Questions about the case
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