Florida man files Jones Act claim against Spring company

A Florida man claims a Spring company and two Alief businesses are responsible for injuries he allegedly suffered working aboard a ship.

Hajo Knuttel filed a Jones Act complaint April 1 in Harris County District Court against National Response Corp., Seacor Holdings Inc., Seacor Payroll Management and OSRV Holdings Inc.

In May 2010, Knuttel says he was working as a second captain aboard the NRC Energy, a ship owned by the defendants. The Marathon, Florida, resident says he was ordered to throw a 6-inch hawser without assistance.

Knuttel contends the hawser, a heavy rope used for towing or mooring, did not have a heaving line. On one attempt, he says a co-worker allowed the hawser to fall in the water and become water-soaked.

Knuttel says the wet hawser caused him to seriously hurt his shoulder. He argues the injury was a direct result of unsafe and unseaworthy conditions on the NRC Energy.

Knuttel says the defendants have a duty to pay for medical care, maintenance income and lost wages but have refused. He is asking to be awarded damages for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical costs, physical impairment and distress.

Attorney Matthew D. Shaffer is representing Knuttel. They demand a jury trial.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-20196.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.