Oyster farmer prevails vs. Skanska

Travis Gill, the owner of the DeLuna Oyster Company, yesterday was awarded just over $1,689,000 in a civil trial against Skanska USA. Gill’s attorneys, Jeff Gill of Vernes & Bowling and Brian Barr of Levin Papantonio Rafferty, successfully argued that two Skanska barges were not properly secured to withstand Hurricane Sally and destroyed his oyster beds.

According to Barr, the legal victory was significant since it was the first civil trial after the federal court found Skanska USA negligent. The trial was the first one where a jury assessed damages.

“This lets Skanska know that the people in this community are not going to let Skanska try and be the big bully in town and walk all over everybody,” said Barr on WCOA’s “Real News” this morning. “I mean, that’s what they have done through this litigation. They think they’re bigger than this community, and this jury stood up and said, ‘No, you’re not.'”