A federal judge in Florida denied an ocean towing and salvaging services company’s motion to dismiss negligence lawsuits filed by a former employee who alleges that he was severely injured on duty and later terminated after filing personal injury claims against the company.
In a March 3 opinion, U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard of the Middle District of Florida denied Smith Maritime Inc.’s motion to dismiss three counts of a thrice amended complaint against the company, including for unseaworthiness, retaliatory discharge, and failure to provide maintenance and cure brought by injured seaman Kurt Sprengle.
