Some of the most dangerous jobs in our community are performed in our vast port facilities by longshoremen and by stevedores. Catastrophic injuries and deaths all too frequently occur to these workers during the various loading and unloading operations on container ships, cruise ships, and other vessels. Our firm is experienced in handling lawsuits brought to win monetary compensation for them and their dependents.

SETTLEMENT: Container Loading Accident/Wrongful Death. Scott Sheftall recovered $1.45 million in a confidential settlement on behalf of two longshoremen and their families. One suffered serious injuries and the other was killed during loading operations aboard a container vessel. The longshoremen fell after being forced to leap from a container where they were standing in order to avoid being crushed by a toppling container. Mr. Sheftall alleged and proved under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act that the defendant time charter and shipowner ordered a series of shifts in the configuration of containers in the ship's hold after the commencement of loading operations. These orders led to the creation of dangerous fall hazards, of which the longshoremen were not warned, and the defendants failed to intervene to order the use of proper protection against falls.