Defective Thread Protector on Offshore Drillship; Multi-Level Spine and Shoulder Surgeries

In October 2021, what should have been a routine job became life-changing when our client, a 56-year-old casing hand, suffered catastrophic injuries on site.

During routine casing operations, our client, represented by attorney Derek Aswell, was removing a thread protector from a casing joint, a task he had performed countless times throughout his career. This time, however, something went terribly wrong. After a single turn, the thread protector suddenly dislodged and violently jerked his body.

This sudden movement caused immediate injuries to his neck, right shoulder, and lower back, injuries that cause him pain for years.

As the case developed, discovery revealed that the companies involved had prior knowledge that these thread protectors were defective before they were brought onto the vessel. Despite knowing the risk, the equipment was still put into use.

Imaging of our client’s right shoulder showed a complete tear in one of the shoulder tendons, additional tears in another, and significant joint deterioration. Despite multiple surgeries, including an arthroscopic repair (minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat joint pain) and a later surgery using more advanced techniques, his shoulder never regained proper function.

In May 2025, he underwent a reverse total shoulder replacement, a procedure that changed how his shoulder works and limited his physical abilities.

His back injury was equally severe. Our client suffered herniated discs pressing on nerves, causing persistent pain and radiating pain into his leg. In May 2022, he underwent a lumbar spinal fusion, followed by years of pain management treatments. He also began experiencing symptoms in his neck that caused numbness in his fingers and weakness in his arm.

As in many cases involving injured workers, preexisting conditions presented a significant challenge.
Prior to this incident our client had undergone a shoulder procedure and had received pain management injections and has a history of back issues.

The defense used this information to argue that the accident wasn’t truly responsible for his condition and that his injuries were simply the result of prior problems rather than the defective equipment.

Derek carefully built a case that didn’t just rely on previous medical records but told the whole story of what happened and how it altered our client’s life.

A closer look into this case showed:

• The accident caused existing conditions to become far worse
• The injuries that our client suffered called for new treatments
• Our client could not continue to work in the same capacity as he was able to before

Derek’s experts calculated:

• Past medical expenses of over $204,000
• Past lost wages exceeding $587,000
• Lost future earning capacity of more than $1 million
• Future medical needs estimated at up to another $1 million