PENSACOLA – An Indiana couple allege the husband was injured on a fishing expedition.
Bradley and Shea Imhausen filed a complaint on March 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division against United States of America alleging general maritime law negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on March 25, 2015, Bradley Imhausen was on a fishing expedition on the defendant's ship. The suit states he was sitting at the bow of the vessel as instructed and when the vessel encountered a large wave, which caused the plaintiff to fly into the air and sit hard back down on the bench. The plaintiff alleges his injuries included a fracture of the lumbar and thoracic spine and that he was forced to undergo extensive surgery and therapy, incurred significant medical expenses, lost his job, and caused plaintiff's wife to be deprived of her husband's comfort, affection and services.
The plaintiffs hold United States of America responsible because the defendant allegedly permitted the vessel to be operated in an unseaworthy manner, and failed to ensure that the vessel was operated by competent, experienced, well-trained and well-supervised captain and crew.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendant, compensatory damages, costs, interest and all other relief available under applicable maritime law as the court deems just. They are represented by J. Rice Ferrelle Jr. of Ferrelle Burns PA in Neptune Beach and Jessica Gonzalez-Monge of Rubenstein Law in Orlando.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division Case number 3:17-cv-00167