A crane operator employed by a third-party oilfield maintenance company was loading equipment onto a semi-truck at a lease in Kern County when the crane’s boom snapped and struck a nearby worker. The worker suffered injuries to his right elbow, right hip, and lower back and was unable to return to work following the incident.

The complaint alleges that the oilfield maintenance company rented the crane from an equipment rental company and assigned an operator who was improperly trained and uncertified, in violation of California Code of Regulations, which requires employers to ensure crane operators hold valid certificates of competency and are trained and evaluated before operating equipment. The plaintiff further alleges that the defendants knew or should have known the crane was in a dangerous and defective condition, that no lift plan was in place, and that industry weight restrictions for the equipment were being ignored.

Chain | Cohn | Clark filed suit on behalf of the injured worker asserting general negligence and negligent hiring, retention, supervision, and training. The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for wage loss, medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, and general damages.