Matthew Zugsberger, who worked as a diver removing aquaculture debris and defunct oyster racks from Drakes Estero in 2016, has won his first case in a series of lawsuits over pay, safety and environmental misconduct in the United States District Court for Northern California. Last year Mr. Zugsberger sued his employer, Galindo Construction, a subcontractor for T.L. Peterson, the company the National Park Service hired to dispose of the debris. Judge Kandis Westmore last week awarded Mr. Zugsberger thousands of dollars in compensation for chemical burns he incurred on the job—part of a $4 million restoration in the Point Reyes National Seashore. The court ruled that, under maritime common law, Galindo is responsible for his “maintenance”—or room and board during recovery—and “cure,” or medical expenses. The court gave Galindo 60 days to pay over $33,000 in maintenance and ongoing fees of $53 a day until he recovers or until there is no further medical treatment that can help him improve his condition. Regarding cure, Galindo has the same time period to pay him $32,000 and the cost of a series of new recommended treatments. “Ultimately, it’s a shame that it took a court order directing Galindo to pay past and future maintenance and cure, which should have been provided to Matt virtually automatically,” Mr. Zugsberger’s attorney, Nick Neidzwski, who specializes in maritime law, said. “At the end of day, Galindo’s failure to pay to date, despite repeated demand and despite knowledge of Matt’s immediate need for treatment, has caused Matt irreparable harm.” As described in the ruling, Mr. Zugsberger passed routine dive physicals periodically since 2013 and did not show any symptoms of toxic or chemical exposure. But during the project, Dr. David Greene, a radiation oncologist, diagnosed him with progressive erythema, blistering and desquamation—conditions consistent with chemical burns caused by petrochemical or other toxic exposure. Mr. Zugsberger said this began during his dive work while removing pilings and creosote-treated lumber, according to the ruling. Judge Westmore discounted on all counts the defense from Galindo, which, among other denials, disputed that Mr. Zugsberger’s injuries were incurred on the job. Mr. Neidzwski plans to pursue additional claims for compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney fees from Galindo, along with claims of safety violations by T.L. Peterson, the primary contractor. The concerns are one part of a three-pronged suit filed by three separate firms for Mr. Zugsberger last December. Mr. Zugsberger also alleges he was wrongfully terminated after voicing a variety of concerns about the contractor’s handling of the removal, and claims that both T.L. Peterson and Galindo defrauded the park service in their disposal of toxic waste pulled from the estero. In August, a team of scientists from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s Office of Criminal Investigations sampled fragments of treated wood and other debris that remain at the shoreline. A spokeswoman yesterday confirmed that the case is still open.