Deckhand Failed to Show Employer's Negligence Caused Slip and Fall

An injured deckhand failed to show that his employer's negligence caused him to slip and break his ankle on an icy ship, a federal district court in Illinois concluded. Case: Kurpiel v. Calumet River Fleeting, No. 08-CV-3155, 2/17/10, published.Facts: Brent Kurpiel worked as a deckhand for Calumet River Fleeting aboard a ship named the John M. Selvick. In December 2007, Kurpiel and his fellow crew traveled to Milwaukee, Wis., to pick up two barges and tow them back to Chicago. A blizzard forced the ship to find safe harbor and dock for the night instead of returning to Chicago. During the ...