Jefferson R. Tillery, a partner in the firm's Admiralty & Maritime Practice Group, Marc C. Hebert, a partner in the firm's Business & Commercial Transactions Practice Group, and Heather L. Kirk, an associate in the firm's Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Group, all in the New Orleans office, recently represented a firm client in a three-day jury trial in federal court with the Hon. Kurt D. Engelhardt presiding. The plaintiff, a vessel captain, fell out of the vessel and sued the vessel owner for negligence under the Jones Act and unseaworthiness under the general maritime law. The plaintiff had three shoulder surgeries and was restricted from returning to work on vessels, and the plaintiff's counsel asked the jury to award $2.7 million in damages in closing arguments. Through the use of a marine safety expert, the defense team successfully defeated the plaintiff's claims and obtained a zero verdict.