Crewman of American Ship Overtaken by Pirates Sues Employer

A crewman of the American ship overtaken by pirates off the coast of Africa earlier this month filed suit against his employer this morning in Harris County, asking for at least $75,000 for pain and suffering, alleging that the ship’s owner did not take proper precautions against high seas attacks.

Florida resident Richard Hicks, chief steward of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama freighter, sued Mobile, Ala.-based Waterman Steamship and Maersk Line, Limited, asking for money for medical costs and lost earnings because of injuries.

At a press conference this morning, Hicks said he was suing to improve conditions for other seafarers traveling in pirate-infested waters off of Somalia. Pirates tried to take over the cargo ship April 8, but were fought off after about 12 hours. They took the ship’s captain, Richard Phillips, hostage, holding him for five days before U.S. Navy snipers freed him by killing three pirates simultaneously. The companies relied “on the United States military (and taxpayers) to provide after-the-fact rescue operations at substantially more cost and risk to human life than what would have been incurred by defendants had they provided appropriate levels of security in the first place,” Hicks said in his complaint. Hicks “sustained and suffered physical pain” and “mental anguish,” according to his petition. He seeks compensation for medical costs and other damages. The companies didn’t provide adequate protection to the crew, according to the petition.

Source: Ecoterra Intl, April 27, 2009

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