EAST ST. LOUIS - A barge company is being sued after a dock and cargo facility in Cora was struck by a barge.
Gavilon Grain, LLC filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against American Commercial Barge Line, LLC and the M/V Tony Espinoza.
According to the lawsuit, Gavilon Grain owns and operates a stationary dock and cargo facility in Cora in Jackson County on the Illinois bank of the Mississippi River. American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) operates river towboats and barges, and M/V Tony Espinoza is a river towboat owned and operated by ACBL.
The suit states that on April 15, 2021, the defendant and its tow barges were navigating the Mississippi River and preparing to dock when one of the barges struck the Cora facility. The plaintiff alleges the collision caused substantial damage to the facility and its structures, including dolphins, monopile, cells, cluster, piling and sidelines.
Gavilon Grain claims it was caused to suffer significant costs and expenses, repair and replacement costs, construction costs, survey costs, supervision costs, internal costs and other costs and expenses from the facility being damaged and unable to operate as intended.
The plaintiff seeks an amount of approximately $1,600,000.00 for losses and damages, plus court costs, pre- and post-judgment interest, and all other relief the court deems just. Gavilon Grain is represented by Daniel L. Massey of The Massey Law Firm LLC in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:22-cv-00437-NJR