Barge worker's family files suit after drowning

The family of a barge worker killed on the job is suing Beelman River Terminals for damages in excess of $50,000 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Plaintiffs Arthur and Tony Rodgers claims their brother C.J. Rodgers was hit on the head, knocked into the water and drowned after a barge line broke on a vessel named MEM5084 on May 25, 2006.

The suit, filed July 26, does not indicate on what body of water the incident took place.

The seaman's next of kin have been deprived of the reasonable value of Rodgers' services, companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training, love and support, the complaint states.

They claim Beelman failed to keep its equipment in proper working order, failed to allow for enough workers to assist in the appropriation of work and failed to have appropriate safety measures in order to provide adequate rescue to a man overboard.

Rodgers's estate is represented by Joseph A. Bartholomew of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin of Belleville.