Mason County, West Virginia

Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, Point Pleasant, West Virginia is home to approximately 9,000 residents, and boasts a thriving river community. For these residents, and for those living in the nearby towns of Hartford City, West Virginia, Henderson, West Virginia, Leon, West Virginia, Mason, West Virginia and New Haven, West Virginia, life revolves around the river. Many people have made their living working as deckhands, engineers, tow boat captains and crew members for river companies located in the area, including: AEP River Transportation, C&C Marine Maintenance Co., McGinnis, Inc. and O-KAN Marine Repair. Those injured working for these businesses on the Ohio River, Kanawha River or other navigable waterways in the Midwest, will need an attorney who understands the Jones Act and General Maritime Law.

Tow boat workers know the difficulties involved in pushing coal and fuel barges down the Kanawah River. Locks on the Kanawha River including London and Marmet are among the most difficult and physically demanding for a deckhand. Taking multiple cuts of barges through the locks results in increased risk of harm to deckhands. Climbing lock walls in the best of weather is a challenge. In bad weather, as is seen in West Virginia and Ohio for many months out of the years, deck work is particularly challenging.

Mason County, Pt. Pleasant, Henderson, Lakin and Gallipolis Ferry are known as being the place to go for companies looking to hire experienced river workers. Terminals, landings and docks line the banks of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers throughout Mason County. Although some companies such as AEP River Transportation have reduced their work force in Mason County, many AEP employees perform tasks that fall within the Jones Act, General Maritime Law and Longshore Act. With the reduction of Mason County work force, river based employees are often required to perform duties not just on tow boats or harbor tugs, but also on adjoining docks and piers. The fewer workers there are at a facility, the more likely the river worker will have to perform multiple tasks and duties. When a river worker is injured, there is a need for an attorney who understands the differences between a Jones Act and General Maritime worker, and a state compensation worker.

Steven Schletker, who is licensed in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, is an experienced attorney who focuses on representation of Jones Act seamen, deckhands, engineers, mates, and tow boat crew members injured on the Ohio River, Lake Erie, Kanawha and other inland waterways, docks and ports. He handles Ohio River and tributary river cases from Paducah, Kentucky to Parkersburg, West Virginia and has represented numerous injured workers along Lake Erie ports from Toledo, Ohio to Conneaut, Ohio.

As an injured worker, the first step in protecting yourself is to contact an experienced attorney who regularly practices Jones Act, General Maritime Law, and river cases. Your initial consultation with Steven Schletker is free. There are no upfront costs or fees. A retainer payment is not required. Steven Schletker receives payment only when he successfully prosecutes your case.