Barge worker files suit against Lewis & Clark Marine

Jerald D. Taggart filed a Jones Act suit against Lewis & Clark Marine Inc. claiming he was thrown into the Mississippi River when the stern of a towboat struck a barge on which he was working.

According to the suit filed March 9 in Madison County Circuit Court, Taggart claims the defendant or its employees were negligent for failing to warn him of the dangers in the area he was assigned to work, among other things.

He claims he was made sick, sore, lame and disordered and suffered extensive injuries to his head, body, trunk and limbs, both internally and externally.

Taggart, seeking in excess of $100,000 in damages, claims he has lost and continues to lose wages and has suffered a loss of earning capacity. He also claims he has expended large sums of money for medical treatment.

He is represented by Robert H. Gregory of East Alton.