Mr. Cass and Mr. Hale obtained a defense verdict on behalf of Transocean, owner of the Deepwater Horizon drill ship, in March 2010. The plaintiff claimed to have been seriously injured while climbing an allegedly defective ladder aboard the drill ship and sued Transocean for damages under general maritime law and his employer under the Jones Act. Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles obtained a summary judgment dismissal of the Jones Act claim. The damages case was tried in Plaquemine Parish against Transocean, where the defense team of Mr. Cass and Mr. Hale convinced the court that Transocean was free of fault and the suit was dismissed with prejudice.