On February 6, 2022, a man named Michael Ramirez was working as a crew member aboard a shrimping vessel called the Lady Nora. The Lady Nora primarily is used for commercial shrimping in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Texas
During the early morning hours, the Lady Nora was located approximately 7 miles off the coast of Port Aransas. The captain and crew of the Lady Nora were aware that Mr. Ramirez was not wearing a life vest. Investigation so far reveals that Mr. Ramirez’s employer and the vessel captain did not actively require the Lady Nora crew to wear life vests. Suddenly, Mr. Ramirez went overboard into the dark Gulf of Mexico waters. The Lady Nora crew lost sight of Mr. Ramirez, and eventually, the U.S. Coast Guard and other good Samaritans began a rescue search. Mr. Ramirez’s body was not recovered during the 32-hour search.
The family of Michael Ramirez has filed a lawsuit against Mr. Ramirez’s employer, the vessel owner, and various related companies claiming that the captain and crew of the Lady Nora had inadequate lifesaving/emergency equipment. The lawsuit alleges that the vessel’s captain and crew failed to employ proper rescue techniques and that the Lady Nora maintained wholly inadequate and deficient man overboard and emergency rescue policies and procedures. The lawsuit further alleges that the captain delayed calling the Coast Guard until after Mr. Ramirez was lost in the dark ocean waters for a significant amount of time.
The Jones Act claims provide specific relief for the seaman who are injured or killed while working on a vessel or for their employer. Hiring the right lawyer for maritime claims is critical, and only experienced maritime lawyers can ensure that all available remedies are pursued. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed as a result of an offshore accident, please do not hesitate to contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-222-7211 or toll-free at 1-800-594-4884 to see if you or your family have a claim.