27.
Mr. Roberto Flores Esteban suffered an accident on February 23, 2000, while working
as a diver on the fishing boat owned by Rafael Zapata. After diving to a great depth, he felt
one of his legs go numb. The next day he was taken to the community of Cauquira where he
was hospitalized for two weeks in FUDEMA’s hyperbaric chamber. 276 According to the medical
certificate from the Puerto Lempira hospital, dated November 2003, Mr. Flores suffered from
decompression syndrome “with a 30% walking impairment.” 277 Mr. Flores filed a claim for
compensation with the Labor Inspector for the work accident he suffered, arguing that Mr.
Zapata had only paid him 4,000.00 lempiras. 278 However, this process did not achieve any
result. According to a statement made his wife in 2012, Mr. Flores is bedridden, has no
physical movement in his arms or legs and has not received medical care. 279
Daniel Dereck
28.
Mr. Daniel Dereck suffered an accident on November 5, 2000, while working as a diver
on a fishing boat owned by Jaime Thomson. After diving to a great depth and returning to the
surface, he felt that his body was paralyzed. The next day he was taken to the city of Roatán
where he was hospitalized for more than a week in the hyperbaric chamber. 280 According to
the medical certificate dated November 2000 from the hospital in Roatán, Mr. Dereck suffered
from decompression sickness with severe loss of strength in his lower limbs, which made him
incapable of standing. 281 Jaime Thompson did not pay him compensation for the accident and
only offered to employ him again, which he accepted due to his situation of need. 282 As a
result, he had another accident in 2004 and suffered problems with his hernia and an infection
that prevented him from urinating. 283 He also had to go to the hospital in Puerto Lempira for
treatment without Mr. Thompson covering the medical expenses. 284 Mr. Dereck filed a formal
claim for compensation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of La Ceiba for the work
accident suffered in November of 2000, but only received 3,000.00 lempiras from the boat
owner outside of the proceedings. Mr. Dereck has great difficulty walking. 285
Eran Herrera Palisto
29.
Mrs. Sofía Flores Palisto, mother of Mr. Eran Herrera Palisto, stated that on August 8,
2002, the victim died in an accident while working on a boat owned by Brux Borden. Mrs.
Flores filed a labor claim with the Labor Inspector against Mr. Borden 286 and on November 5,
276
Cf. Formal claim for compensation filed by Roberto Flores Esteban against Rafael Zapata on November 17,
2003 (merits file, folio 50).
277
Cf. Medical certificate of the Puerto Lempira Hospital of November 17, 2003 (merits file, folio 50).
Cf. Formal claim for compensation filed by Roberto Flores Esteban against Rafael Zapata dated November 17,
2003 (merits file, folio 50).
278
279
Cf. Interview with Rutilia Belli Ordoñez dated August 6, 2012 (merits file, folio 50).
280
Cf. Formal claim for compensation filed by Daniel Dereck against Jaime Thompson, on April 28, 2004 (merits
file, folio 50).
281
Cf. Certificate of the Cornerstone Chamber Hospital and Medical Service, dated 14 November 2000 (merits
file, folio 50).
282
Cf. Formal claim for compensation filed by Daniel Dereck against Jaime Thompson, on April 28, 2004 (merits
file, folio 50).
283
Cf. Formal claim for compensation of Daniel Dereck against Jaime Thompson dated April 28, 2004 (merits file,
folio 50).
284
Cf. Interview with Daniel Dereck dated August 6, 2012 (merits file, folio 51).
285
Cf. Interview with Daniel Dereck dated August 6, 2012 (merits file, folio 51).
286
Cf. Order dated January 9, 2003, from the Labor Inspector notifying the Judge (merits file, folio 51).
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