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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Deckhand claims employer refuses to pay for medical treatment

A St. Clair County man claims he incurred neck, thumb, knee and back injuries for which his employer refuses to provide compensation while working on a ship.

Joshua Glaus filed a lawsuit April 14 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Osage Marine Services.

Glaus claims he worked as a deckhand for Osage on the crew of the Francis, a boat afloat on the Mississippi River near St. Louis, in August 2008 when he injured his knee while in the process of fleeting barges.

Again, Glaus sustained injuries on Jan. 2, 2009, when he worked as a member of the Wendy Ann, another boat floating on the Mississippi River near St. Louis, according to the complaint. Glaus nearly severed his thumb while pulling a vessel farther into the river, the suit states.

And in August 2009, Glaus sustained injuries to his neck and back when he moved cable while working aboard the Tom McConnell, the complaint says.

Because of his injuries, Glaus became hindered and prevented from attending to his normal duties and affairs; lost wages and his earning capacity; suffered a great deal of anguish in body and mind; suffered temporary total disability, permanent partial disability and disfigurement; and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint.

Because of his medical treatment, Glaus has been unable to return to work on the vessel, the suit states. And, because his injuries occurred while he worked, Glaus says Osage should pay for his medical costs and provide him with maintenance and cure -- something the company allegedly refuses to do, the suit states.

He blames Osage for causing his injuries, saying the company negligently failed to provide him with a safe place to work, failed to provide an adequate number of crew members and failed to provide him with proper equipment.

In his nine-count complaint, Glaus seeks a judgment of more than $300,000, plus costs, interest, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just. He also seeks at least $120 per day from Osage for reasonable maintenance costs, plus an order that demands them to pay for his medical costs.

Mark C. Scroggins, Clay B. St. Clair and Anthony P. Gilbreth of Crowder and Scroggins in Columbia will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-172.

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