Longshoreman files federal complaint against German ship owner

A longshoreman who slipped and fell while ascending a vessel at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in the Port of Philadelphia is suing the ship’s German owner in federal court.

Attorney Scott A. Portner, of the Philadelphia law firm Freedman and Lorry, P.C., filed the personal injury lawsuit Aug. 2 at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The plaintiff’s in the case are Alford and Barbara Hennigan, a husband and wife from Philadelphia.

Named as the defendant is Bahia Negra GMBH & Co. KG c/o Columbus Ship Management GMBH of Hamburg, Germany.

According to the complaint, Alford Hennigan, who was employed by Greenwich Terminals, LLC at the time, was ascending the gangway of the Bahia Negra Dec. 16, 2010, when he suddenly slipped and fell, causing him to sustain various physical injuries.

The ship had been berthed at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal at the time of the incident.

As a result of his fall, Alford Hennigan suffered knee injuries, as well as other orthopedic, neurological and internal injuries, as well as a severe shock to his nerves and nervous system, the lawsuit states.

The incident has caused Alford Hennigan to spend various sums of money on medical care and treatment.

He has also suffered “agonizing aches, pains and mental anguish,” the lawsuit states, and he has been prevented from carrying out his usual duties, activities and occupations because of the work-related accident.

Alford Hennigan demands judgment against the defendant in a sum in excess of $150,000, plus interest and related court costs.

His wife, Barbara Hennigan, has a loss of consortium count in the federal complaint, alleging that she has been deprived of her spouse’s comfort, companionship and services because of his injuries. She too seeks a judgment of $150,000, together with related costs.

The plaintiff’s are demanding a jury trial.

The federal case number is 2:11-cv-04924-RB.