A Louisiana jury last week awarded $37.1 milllion to a 27-year-old worker who lost his leg four years ago in a workplace accident.
New sources report that Houston-based Total Petrochemicals and Refining was found negligent in Dec. 14, 2013 accident. Logan Milstead, a dockman who was responsible for testing chemicals as they were transferred between Total's plant and the barges and ships that moored the company's floating dock, was injured when a portion of the loading dock he was standing on collapsed, causing a 6,000 pound counterweight to crush his leg.
Milstead underwent 13 surgeries as a result of the accident.
His attorney argued that the company knew about unsafe conditions prior to the accident.
Milstead’s award was for medical expenses, loss of wages, physical pain and suffering and mental anguish. The jury also awarded him an additional $5 million for past and future enjoyment of life, $2 million for disability and $3.5 million or scarring and disfigurement.
Total is a leading multinational energy company with 96,400 employees and operations in more than 130 countries. Together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, Total is the fourth largest publicly-traded integrated international oil and gas company in the world.
A Total Petrochemicals spokeswoman said the company intends to appeal.
