Arnold & Itkin Wins $1.72 Million Verdict for Worker Injured at BP Texas City Plant

GALVESTON, Texas, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Houston trial law firm Arnold & Itkin LLP is announcing a $1.72 million verdict handed down in favor of a New Braunfels man who was severely injured in an industrial accident at BP America Inc.'s oil refinery plant in Texas City, Texas.

A jury in Judge David E. Garner's 10th Judicial District Court in Galveston County issued the verdict late Friday, Jan. 15, 2009, after finding Bridgeville, Pa.-based Maxim Crane Works completely liable for injuries suffered by Ernesto Tamez.

Mr. Tamez was supervising a job at the BP plant on Jan. 18, 2006, when he was struck by an oil burner being lifted by a Maximum Crane Works crane operator. Mr. Tamez suffered crushing injuries to his ribs, back, neck and shoulder, and endured extensive surgeries to repair the damage.

The Galveston jury found Maxim Crane Works 100 percent liable for the injuries sustained by Mr. Tamez. The verdict includes $300,000 in lost wages, $550,000 in medical expenses and $170,000 to the injured worker's wife. Prior to trial, Maxim Crane Works made no settlement offers.

Trial evidence showed that the crane operator lifted the oil burner without waiting on a signal from anyone that the area was clear, and also moved the crane boom in such a way that it was out of alignment with the load, contributing to the accident.

Mr. Tamez and his wife were represented by Arnold & Itkin attorneys Cory Itkin and Michael Pierce.

"Maxim Crane Works' Web site says 'zero accidents is the only goal,' but sadly in this instance they failed," says Mr. Itkin. "It has taken four years to get to this point, but our hope is that this verdict will help our client and his family move on with their life."

"The greatest tragedy of this case is that the pain and suffering experienced by Mr. Tamez and his wife easily could have been prevented," says Mr. Pierce. "We are pleased that the jury stood up and held this company accountable."

The case is Ernesto R. Tamez and Maria Tamez v. Maxim Crane Works, L.P., No. 06CV1220.

Arnold & Itkin represents clients in high-stakes cases involving medical and pharmaceutical injuries, products liability, serious personal injury claims, maritime accidents and business disputes. To learn more, visit the firm's Web site at http://www.lawyerforyou.com.

For more information, please contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or [email protected].

SOURCE Arnold & Itkin LLP

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