Florida Vessel Owner Files Federal Limitation of Liability Action After Crew Member Overboard Accident Near Guantanamo Bay
P & L Towing & Transportation, Inc., a Florida corporation based in Davie, has filed a maritime federal complaint for exoneration from or limitation of liability in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The legal action, filed under Case No. 0:26-cv-61646-DSL, comes in response to a Jones Act negligence and unseaworthiness lawsuit initiated by a crew member who suffered serious personal injuries after falling overboard from a barge during docking operations.
Towing Company Responds to Deckhand Personal Injury Lawsuit with Maritime Limitation Act Complaint
According to the federal court filing, the underlying incident occurred on December 2, 2025, near Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The vessel M/V Annelie, owned and operated by P & L Towing & Transportation, was engaged in towing the barge SLNC Choptank on a voyage that originated in Jacksonville, Florida. Upon arriving at their destination, deckhand Seth Steighner and another crew member boarded the barge to prepare the vessel for docking. While performing his duties on deck, Steighner grasped a vertical stanchion that was part of the barge’s safety railing system. The stanchion suddenly broke off, causing the deckhand to plunge into the water. Although he was immediately recovered and returned to duty later that day after a medical clearance, Steighner subsequently filed a state court lawsuit in Broward County, Florida, alleging severe injuries to his neck, back, shoulders, arm, and head.
Vessel Owner Denies Fault and Points to Lack of Ownership Over defective Barge Railing
In its federal petition, P & L Towing & Transportation argues that it should be completely exonerated from liability because the accident was not caused by any fault, negligence, or neglect on its part. The petitioner highlights that it neither owned nor operated the SLNC Choptank barge and was not responsible for its structural maintenance. The company had merely entered into a charter agreement to safely tow the barge to Cuba. Furthermore, the complaint asserts that the captain and crew conducted regular, thorough safety inspections of the barge’s walkways, handrails, and deck equipment prior to setting sail from Jacksonville. The legal team states that any structural defect within the vertical stanchion was completely hidden and could not have been detected through standard, reasonable inspection protocols.
Maritime Law Filing Seeks to Limit Legal Exposure to Value of Towing Vessel and Pending Freight
Alternatively, the towing company argues that if the federal court finds it share any liability for the deckhand’s injuries, such liability must be strictly limited under the Shipowners’ Limitation of Liability Act. The complaint alleges that any unsafe condition or mechanical failure occurred entirely without the privity or knowledge of the vessel owner’s corporate management prior to the voyage. To comply with federal admiralty rules, P & L Towing & Transportation submitted an ad interim stipulation offering a security bond of $1,130,525.00. This total represents the combined value of the M/V Annelie, estimated at $1,100,000.00, and the pending freight revenue earned from the voyage, which totaled $30,525.00.
Petitioner Requests Federal Injunction to Halt State Court Negligence and Unseaworthiness Proceedings
The legal strategy employed by the petitioner seeks a total restructuring of the litigation process. P & L Towing & Transportation has requested that the Southern District of Florida issue an injunction restraining the further prosecution of the state court negligence action currently pending in Broward County. Under Supplemental Rule F of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the vessel owner is asking the court to compel all potential claimants to file their respective claims exclusively within the federal admiralty jurisdiction. Ultimately, the company seeks a final judgment discharging it from all future financial liability and permanently barring any further personal injury claims stemming from the December 2025 overboard accident.
Contact a Maritime Accident Lawyer Today if You Were Injured Working Aboard a Towboat or Barge
Crew members and maritime workers who suffer serious injuries onboard towing vessels, barges, or commercial ships have distinct rights under federal maritime law and the Jones Act. When a maritime employer files a limitation of liability action, injured workers face tight deadlines and complex procedural rules to protect their claims. If you or a loved one has been harmed in an overboard accident, due to defective safety railings, or because of unseaworthy vessel conditions, contacting an experienced maritime personal injury attorney immediately is essential. Professional legal counsel can help navigate federal injunctions and fight to secure the compensation you deserve for medical expenses and long-term recovery.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
