Barge worker hurt while uncutting slack sues

Jason Brown filed a Jones Act case against Alter Barge Lines in Madison County Circuit Court Nov. 28 seeking damages in excess of $50,000.

Brown claims that on June 28 he was the lead deckhand on the MARC when he severely injured his lower back after being ordered to jerk slack out of a wire while building a tow.

He claims Alter failed to provide him with a reasonably safe place to work, failed to provide him with adequate assistance, failed to warn him of the dangers in the area he was assigned to work, failed to supervise his work and failed to inspect the barge to see that it was not defective or unsafe.

According to Brown, he has lost wages, suffered a loss of earning capacity, became obligated for medical expenses and has sustained a permanent disfigurement.

Brown is represented by Christopher Dysart of St. Louis.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.

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