Jones Act case filed in St. Clair County

William Buttrum filed a Jones Act suit in St. Clair County Circuit Court Oct. 26, seeking at least $50,000 in damages from Ingram Barge Company.

Buttrum claims that on June 7, 2003, he injured himself while he was attempting to jerk a wire. At the time he was a deckhand on the M/V CA Johnson, traversing the Ohio River near the Paducah, Ky. harbor.

According to the complaint, Ingram failed to provide Buttrum with a reasonably safe place to work, failed to provide suitable equipment and failed to provide adequate manpower to perform the task Buttrum was assigned.

Buttrum also claims that on Sept. 5, 2004, he was again injured while a deckhand on the M/V Stephen P Venable which was afloat on the Tennessee River. At that time he was attempting to face an empty cargo barge to the head of the vessel.

He claims that Ingram failed to properly control the movement of the boat while he was performing his assigned task.

Buttrum claims he suffered severe, permanent and progressive injuries to his back, including the bones, tendons and soft tissues, lost earnings in a great sum, became liable for medical expenses, experienced great pain and suffering and has sustained a permanent disability.

Buttrum is represented by Sandor Korein and Stephen Telken of Korein Tillery in St. Louis.

05 L 615 (20th Circuit)