The owners of the fishing boat which was featured in “Deadliest catch” are taking legal action against the reality show’s creators after one the deckhands claimed that he did not receive proper medical treatment and suffered serious injuries.
This actionwas brought by owners of the F/V Northwestern on Wednesday, in U.S. District Court in Alaska. It is a follow-up to the deckhand’s lawsuit filed against the boat’s owners on the same day in Washington the courtroom in December.
The deckhand, Nick Mavar Jr. was a long-time actor on this Discovery Channel show. The lawyers of his client claim that on his trip in December of 2020, the deckhand suffered a rupture of his appendix. The rupture contained a tumor that he did not know about prior to the incident.
The lawyers of Mavar’s lawyer blame Northwestern’s owners for not being able to get Mavar promptly and effectively examined, and also for not having the proper medical plan to treat crew members during the outbreak.
“The delay in a competent and proper examination, testing and diagnosis led to (Mavar’s) appendix rupture, resulting in horrific and persistent infections surgery, cancer, and treatment that wouldn’t be necessary were the appendix removed prior to the rupture,” attorneys wrote.
Mavar is seeking damages of $1 million from the owners of F/V Northwestern.
Washington state records indicate that the boat is operated under the name of Hansen Enterprises, Inc. located in Washington and has 3 members from the Hansen family, including the skipper Sig Hansen as governors.
In their suit this week, the show’s lawyers representing the owners argue they believe that “Deadliest catch” producer, Original Productions, Inc. as well as the medical company that runs the show, Trifecta Solutions, LLC are accountable for any damages that are owed to Mavar and the legal fees.
According to the lawyers of the owners, Original created COVID protocols to film the program, as well as the ship’s crew was required to follow the COVID protocols.
“These COVID protocols limited the exposure of F/V Northwestern crew members to those who were not connected to the show on television,” the owners’ lawyers said in a letter.
The producers claim that a resident physician contracted by Trifecta the producers who examined Mavar for abdominal discomfort at “multiple times.” Following an Dutch Harbor medic’s diagnosis of appendicitis Mavar was diagnosed with a major illness and was in the hospital for treatment for cancer along with abdominal surgeries.
“(Mavar) suffered, and could continue to endure in the coming years, huge amounts of physical pain and consequent physical impairment as well as mental distress,” attorneys wrote.
A request for an explanation by Original Productions wasn’t immediately answered Tuesday.
The majority of the medical issues Mavar faced was shown during the series “Deadliest catch.” The YouTube video shared on the website Discovery from the 2021 episode from the programshows Mavar complains of back pains to the Dutch Harbor medic during a port visit.
“If I press on it, I feel pain, I feel the pain,” Mavar tells the medic while lying within his bunk.
The doctor tells Hansen the Mavar’s white blood cells count has doubled from the normal range Mavar’s blood count has tripled, and he should be transported to Anchorage.
“You certainly must visit the clinic as soon as possible,” the medic tells Mavar.
Hansen soon accepts the offer and must find a replacement for the crewman. The video shows the Northwestern heading out to sea. Mavar’s LifeMed flight departs at the local airport with Hansen playing the horn of the boat to signal his deckhand’s departure.
