Doyle Raizner Offshore Injury Client Awarded Multi-Million Dollar Verdict
(PRWEB) September 24, 2013 -- Maritime and Jones Act national law firm Doyle Raizner client Willie David Williams has been awarded a unanimous $9.6 million jury verdict against Diamond Offshore Services. Mr. Williams was employed by Diamond Offshore on a semi-submersible drilling vessel, OCEAN LEXINGTON, as a drilling worker in January 2008 when he was injured while offshore Egypt (Williams v. Diamond Offshore Services Limited, et al.; in the 164th District Court of Harris County, Texas; No. 2011-31922).
According to court documents, the plaintiff is a Mississippi resident and was working for the Houston-based Diamond Offshore Services as a mechanical supervisor. Mr. Williams claimed that he was ordered to unsafely repair a set of elevators, used to lift pipe into the drilling operations, to avoid a shutdown of the drilling operations being conducted for BP. Mr. Williams claimed that Diamond Offshore’s failure to have sufficient elevator spares onboard, as well as its failure to properly maintain its equipment in a safe and seaworthy manner, created an unnecessary emergency situation and directly led to his career-ending back injury. The jury found that Diamond Offshore’s vessel was unseaworthy and its operational negligence was also responsible for Mr. Williams’ injuries (Williams v. Diamond Offshore Services Limited, et al.; in the 164th District Court of Harris County, Texas; No. 2011-31922).
Mr. Williams’ lead trial lawyer, Michael Patrick Doyle, Doyle Raizner LLP partner, commented: “Diamond Offshore promises a comprehensive safety program, at least on paper, but the jury’s verdict confirms, in practice, that Diamond Offshore is ready to jettison these critical equipment and operational standards to avoiding jeopardizing any shutdown financial penalties. The jury’s verdict supports the evidence of the company’s willingness to expose its own employees, rig and the environment to potentially disastrous consequences.”
Doyle Raizner LLP is a Houston-based law firm specializing in personal injury and maritime cases. The firm has represented clients across the globe against companies unwilling to uphold their financial obligation to their injured workers.
About Michael Patrick Doyle:
Michael Patrick Doyle is an offshore injury lawyer, board certified in personal injury law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He focuses much of his practice on working with victims of maritime accidents including international claims and maritime death cases. Doyle champions the rights of those who have been injured or wronged at sea, with a strong track record of recovering damages for victims and their families. He can be contacted at:
Doyle Raizner LLP
1221 McKinney Suite 4100
Houston, TX 77010
713-571-1146
http://www.DoyleRaizner.com
Jeff Raizner, Doyle Raizner LLP, http://www.doyleraizner.com, (713) 571-1146, [email protected]
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