Family Finds Justice After Tragic Barge Accident

When Stacy Artigue’s husband went to work, it was supposed to be another day on the job. He had just celebrated his 14th anniversary with the company the day before—a milestone marking years of dedication as a barge engineer. But then, tragedy struck. He lost his life in a barge accident that would forever change his family’s world.

A Company’s Cold Response

In the aftermath, Stacy expected the company to show care and respect for the man who had worked for them for more than a decade. Instead, she says they treated her family like his life and service meant nothing.

“They treated us like he was the janitor who had just started the day before."

The lack of compassion left Stacy and her daughter, Kelsey, heartbroken and on their own, forced to handle not just the grief of their loss but the heavy burden of expenses the company refused to cover.

Searching for Help

At first, Stacy hired a local attorney. He told her it would be the biggest case of his career. But after speaking with another lawyer, he suddenly dropped the case. Left without representation, Stacy’s brother began reaching out to other attorneys. One by one, they refused to take it.

“My brother actually went and saw several attorneys over here, and nobody would call him back. They would tell him they didn’t want the case. Then he called Victoria, and we were here within a week, signing papers.”

That call changed everything. Within days, Stacy and Kelsey were meeting with Arnold & Itkin’s Victoria Alford and finally had a team ready to stand up for them.

Finding Compassion & Support

Throughout the process, Stacy says she always knew she and Kelsey were in good hands.

“I always knew they had our best interests at heart, that they cared about us.”

Having a team that cared made all the difference.

For the first time since the accident, they didn’t feel alone.

A Chance to Heal

After their case concluded, Stacy and Kelsey say they could finally begin to grieve and heal. The constant reminders and court proceedings had kept the pain fresh, forcing them to relive the tragedy over and over.

“The grieving process can finally continue because, with court, you have to keep talking about it and reliving what happened that day. Now we can finally move forward and get a little happier in life.”

Standing Up for Families Like Theirs

Stacy and Kelsey’s story is one of courage, loss, and perseverance. When a company failed to take responsibility, they found strength in each other—and in having a team that refused to back down.

At Arnold & Itkin, we are proud to stand with families like theirs.

When companies put profit before people, we make sure accountability follows. No one should have to face tragedy alone. Our commitment to clients remains the same: we fight for what’s right, no matter what.