A Hartford shipyard owner claims a repairman’s negligence caused his own injuries when his right hand was caught in a milling machine.
Rodger Radcliff III filed his complaint on Sept. 9 against National Maintenance & Repair Inc.
According to the complaint, Radcliff claims he was performing repairs on a ship’s engine at the defendant’s shipyard in Hartford on April 12 when his right hand was caught in the missing machine. As a result, he alleges his hand was amputated.
Radcliff alleges he suffered permanent injuries, lost wages and earning capacity, physical pain and mental anguish and medical expenses.
He alleges the defendant failed to provide adequate training, failed to inspect the hazards in the work area, failed to provide safe tools and equipment and failed to provide maintenance and cure.
National Maintenance & Repair answered the complaint on Oct. 10 through attorneys Theodore Lucas and Bart Sullivan of Fox Galvin in St. Louis.
The defendant denied the allegations against it and asserted four affirmative defenses against the plaintiff.
National Maintenance argues that Radcliff failed to use reasonable care for his own safety by failing to keep a careful lookout and to follow instructions.
The defendant also argues that Radcliff was within the coverage of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act at the time of the incident.
Radcliff replied to the affirmative defenses on Oct. 13 through attorney Matthew Chapman of Becker Schroader & Chapman in Granite City.
He denied each and every allegation.
In a Nov. 16 case management order, Madison County Circuit Judge William Mudge scheduled the case for trial on Aug. 13, 2018.
Radcliff seeks an unspecified judgment in his favor, plus court costs and other relief the court deems just.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-1280