Gray•Duffy Negotiates Remarkably Low Settlement in Drilling Rig Accident

March 2012

Overview

Kevin Cruz of Gray•Duffy’s Encino office successfully negotiated a remarkably low settlement on behalf of T&T Truck and Crane in a personal injury lawsuit involving a drilling rig accident.

Discussion

Esparza v. T & T Truck and Crane

Plaintiff Andrew Esparza was employed by Kenai Drilling (“Kenai”) as a deck hand on a drilling rig. Kenai was erecting a drilling rig for geothermal wells and hired T&T Truck and Crane to transport equipment from its facility in Bakersfield to the drilling site in the Sonoma area.

It was alleged that the plaintiff was injured in the course of erecting the rig by a chain binder provided by T&T Truck and Crane causing lacerations to his face, the loss of several teeth and a nearly completely severed tongue. The plaintiff’s medical expenses totaled approximately $90,000, and he claimed approximately $63,000 in loss of earnings.

The plaintiff filed suit in Fresno, but Kevin M. Cruz of Gray•Duffy successfully motioned the court to move the case to Ventura County where T&T Truck and Crane was domiciled. Mr. Cruz conducted an aggressive course of discovery and thereafter, the plaintiff essentially gave up and settled for $2,000.

Please Note: This article is necessarily general in nature and is not a substitute for legal advice with respect to any particular case. Readers should consult with an attorney before taking any action affecting their interests.