Arnold & Itkin Wins $1.55 Million Verdict for Worker Injured at Port of Houston

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May 12, 2010, 12:28 ET

HOUSTON, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Houston trial law firm Arnold & Itkin LLP is announcing a $1.55 million verdict handed down in favor of a Houston man who was injured in an industrial accident at APM Terminals' marine terminal at the Port of Houston.

A jury in Judge Jaclanel McFarland's 133rd Judicial District Court in Harris County, Texas, issued the unanimous negligence verdict on Tuesday, May 11, 2010. Jurors found Portsmouth, Va.-based APM Terminals North America Inc. liable for severe work site injuries suffered by ship repairman Gilberto Villegas.

On May 29, 2008, Mr. Villegas was unloading materials from his pickup truck at the Port of Houston's Barbours Cut Terminal. Mr. Villegas was injured when his truck was rammed by a yard mule truck driven by an APM Terminals employee. The impact caused several injuries, the most severe of which led to neck surgery to alleviate pain from two herniated discs.

During the six-day trial, jurors heard about the negligence of the yard mule operator, whose driver's license had expired two years earlier. Following 11 hours of deliberations, the jury found APM Terminals negligent before awarding Mr. Villegas slightly more than $1.55 million for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. APM Terminals' highest settlement offer before trial was only $35,000.

Mr. Villegas was represented at by Arnold & Itkin attorneys Jason Itkin and Cory Itkin.

"As recent events have shown us all, maritime workers face some of the most dangerous working conditions anywhere," says Jason Itkin, co-founder of Arnold & Itkin. "That's why it's so important for companies to provide safe work sites and make sure their employees are following proper safety protocols."

"On behalf of the entire Villegas family, we would like to thank the jury for holding this company accountable," says Cory Itkin. "Without the jury's help APM would have gotten away with this and swept Mr. Villegas and his case under the rug."

The case is Oscar Acuna and Gilberto Villegas v. APM Terminals North America, Inc., et al., No. 2008-43180.

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