The plaintiff was employed by Steiner Transocean Limited, a company that provided spa services aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, when a fall aboard the vessel resulted in severe and permanent injuries.
According to the case, a Norwegian Cruise Line employee had mopped a floor but failed to dry it. The employee twice told Simpson that she was “done,” leading him to believe that the floor was dry and safe to walk across.
As Simpson walked through the area, his legs slipped out from under him and he landed on his back.
Simpson brought a claim against his employer, Steiner Transocean Limited, under the Federal Jones Act, which permits qualifying seamen to pursue claims directly against their employers for negligence. He alleged that Steiner had breached its nondelegable duty to maintain the spa in a reasonably safe condition for its employees.
Life-Changing Injuries After the Fall
Steiner denied negligence and disputed whether Simpson’s medical conditions were caused by the fall.
Simpson’s physicians testified that the accident caused permanent damage to the nerves in his spine, resulting in urinary and bowel incontinence as well as sexual impotence.
At 42 years old at the time of trial, Simpson testified that he was required to self-catheterize in order to urinate and irrigate his bowels three times each week. His physician also testified that he would require spinal fusion surgery in the future.
Simpson underwent two penile implant surgeries to treat the sexual impotence he claimed resulted from the accident.
The injuries also significantly affected his ability to work. Simpson, who was married with six children, had previously worked as a truck driver before becoming a fitness instructor. His treating physician testified that his permanent condition left him limited to sedentary employment.
Jury Finds Defendant 100% Negligent
After hearing the evidence, the jury deliberated for only 42 minutes.
The jury found Steiner Transocean Limited 100% negligent and awarded Simpson $9,486,000 in damages.
The verdict provided a substantial recovery for a maritime worker facing permanent physical limitations, ongoing medical needs, and profound changes to his personal and professional life. It also demonstrated the protections the Jones Act can provide to qualifying seamen when employer negligence contributes to serious injuries aboard a vessel.