Maritime
Ship loader claiming back injury gets $1.3 million
A cargo ship loader who claimed a back injury when he fell on the deck of a freighter during a rainstorm recovered nearly $1.3 million on March 18. Quinton Henderson argued that the ship's deck had nonskid walkways along the sides (from bow to stern), but not athwart (across) the vessel. Henderson called a vessel captain to testify that the entire deck should have been coated with nonskid paint. Henderson underwent a lumbar diskectomy, followed by a fusion that was unsuccessful. The jury found the manager 40 percent negligent, the owner 30 percent negligent and Henderson 30 percent negligent. It awarded Henderson $1,734,943.
