Update, September 8, 2026: Hubbard v. Weeks Marine resolved through a favorable confidential settlement before trial. I served as lead counsel for Najee Hubbard. This article replaces the earlier discussion of the case as an active matter.
Najee Hubbard was working aboard a Weeks Marine tug when an overhead hatch struck him in the head. For a mariner, an injury like that can put more than the next hitch in question. Medical treatment, the ability to return aboard, and the income a family depends on may all be affected.
The practical lesson for someone hurt on the Houston Ship Channel is to get medical care, preserve what happened, and identify which maritime protections apply to the work you actually do. A job title alone does not answer that question.
The Hubbard v. Weeks Marine case result explains the hatch injury and the preparation that preceded the settlement. Here, I explain what an injured deckhand, engineer, tug crew member, or dredge worker should consider next.
What injured Houston Ship Channel workers should know
- Your work determines the legal framework. A seaman may have Jones Act and general maritime law claims. A qualifying longshore or harbor worker may fall under a different federal compensation system.
- Medical benefits and an injury lawsuit are separate questions. Maintenance and cure may be owed to a qualifying seaman while a negligence claim is disputed.
- The details of the equipment matter. A hatch, latch, ladder, or work procedure can become central evidence. Preserve records promptly and safely.
- A settlement is a decision for the client. It should follow an informed assessment of the evidence, medical needs, financial losses, and risks of trial.
What happened in Hubbard v. Weeks Marine?
Najee was a deckhand and able-bodied seaman employed by Weeks Marine, Inc. His case concerned an overhead hatch injury aboard the tug Candace on the Houston Ship Channel. The claims addressed the equipment, crew training, and the response to his injuries.
The case was prepared for trial in the 157th Civil District Court of Harris County, Texas. It resolved through a favorable confidential settlement over the final weekend before jury selection. The settlement terms remain confidential. The defendants disputed the allegations, and the settlement was not a jury verdict establishing liability.
For an injured worker, the value of studying a case like this is understanding what a lawyer needs to investigate: how the task was performed, whether the equipment was reasonably safe, what training was provided, and how the injury changed the worker’s life. Another person’s result does not establish what your claim is worth.
Does the Jones Act cover everyone who works at the Port of Houston?
No. Working near the water, on a terminal, or even aboard a vessel does not automatically make someone a Jones Act seaman.
Seaman status generally requires work that contributes to a vessel’s function or mission and a connection to a vessel in navigation, or an identifiable fleet, that is substantial in both duration and nature. Vessel assignments, actual duties, and work history matter. A percentage of time aboard is part of the analysis, not a substitute for it.
A qualifying longshore worker, ship repairer, or harbor construction worker may instead be covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Other workers may have different remedies. That distinction should be evaluated before anyone assumes which benefits or claims are available.
Our maritime injury practice page explains the types of cases our team handles.
Three protections a qualifying injured seaman may have
Jones Act negligence
The Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30104, permits a qualifying seaman injured in the course of employment to bring a negligence claim against the employer. The investigation may address unsafe equipment, inadequate training, an unsafe work method, or a failure to respond appropriately to a known hazard. Negligence and its contribution to the injury must be proved.
Read more about Jones Act injury claims.
Unseaworthiness
General maritime law requires a vessel owner to provide a vessel, equipment, and crew reasonably fit for their intended use. An unseaworthiness claim is distinct from employer negligence. A defective hatch or unsafe equipment arrangement can raise this issue, but an accident alone does not prove the claim.
Maintenance and cure
Maintenance and cure generally provides a qualifying seaman with basic living expenses and necessary medical treatment for an injury or illness arising in the service of the vessel, until maximum medical improvement. These benefits generally do not depend on proving employer negligence. Eligibility, the proper amount, and any asserted defense still require review.
What to do after a vessel injury
- Get medical care and describe the injury accurately. Tell the clinician how the incident happened, what hurts, and whether symptoms have changed. Follow medical advice about work and treatment.
- Report the incident and keep a copy. Read any report before signing it, correct inaccuracies, and ask for the completed version.
- Preserve evidence without putting yourself at risk. Keep photographs you already have, messages, vessel assignments, pay records, and witness names. Do not alter equipment or enter a restricted area to collect evidence.
- Keep track of treatment and missed work. Save bills, appointment records, benefit correspondence, and notes about tasks you can no longer perform.
- Understand a request before responding. Get advice before signing a settlement release or broad medical authorization, or giving an insurer a recorded statement. Those are different from honestly reporting the incident or obtaining care.
You do not need a complete file before contacting a lawyer. The vessel name, employer, date, location, and a straightforward account of what happened are a useful place to start.
How we prepare a maritime injury case
We begin with the work. What was the crew member assigned to do? How was the equipment supposed to operate? What training and inspection records exist? Who saw the incident or the symptoms that followed?
We then connect that evidence to the medical and financial record. A serious injury can affect future treatment, the ability to return to sea, and long-term earning capacity. Those losses need evidence, not a settlement formula.
I am Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In Hubbard, I served as lead trial counsel. You can read more about working with me and the VB Attorneys team on a Jones Act case, including what to expect from the first conversation and the decision whether to settle.
Questions injured mariners often ask
Can I still have a claim if I kept working after the injury?
Continuing to work does not by itself determine whether you have a claim. Report the injury accurately, tell your treating clinician about continuing or changing symptoms, and follow medical advice. The incident, your legal status, and the evidence of injury still need to be evaluated.
Can maintenance and cure be available before my case settles?
Yes. For an eligible seaman, maintenance and cure is a separate obligation that can arise while liability for the accident is disputed. An employer’s group health insurance and its maritime maintenance-and-cure duty are not the same thing.
How long do I have to file a maritime injury lawsuit?
A three-year limitation period generally applies to maritime personal injury claims under 46 U.S.C. § 30106. Different claims, defendants, and procedural rules can create other deadlines. Have the applicable deadlines checked promptly; waiting also makes evidence harder to preserve.
Will my case have to go to trial?
Not necessarily. Hubbard resolved before jury selection. Preparing the evidence for trial helps a client evaluate a settlement proposal, but it does not guarantee an offer or a particular outcome. The decision whether to accept a settlement belongs to the client.
Talk with us about what happened
If you were seriously hurt aboard a tug, dredge, barge, or other working vessel on the Houston Ship Channel or in Galveston Bay, request a free, confidential case review or call (877) 724-7800. Tell us where you worked, what happened, and what medical care you have received. We can discuss the questions that need answers and the next steps for evaluating your case.
Every case depends on its own facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This article provides general information and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.