Man injured by wire shackle files Jones Act suit

Kenneth Wallace claims that while he was a deckhand on the M/V Wendy L he was hit in the left knee by a wire shackle, according to a Jones Act suit filed in Madison County Circuit Court March 10.

Wallace claims American Commercial Barge Line failed to provide an adequate deck crew for the vessel, failed to provide him with a reasonably safe place to work and failed to provide safe equipment.

According to the suit, the M/V Wendy L was near mile marker 184 on the upper Mississippi River near St. Louis on June 15, 2005, when he allegedly was injured.

Wallace claims the wire shackle caused a contusion on his left knee which required medical care and caused pain and suffering and lost wages.

Represented by Hugh Talbert of Alton, Wallace is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 plus all costs of the suit.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Lola Maddox.

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