Recent Blog Posts
Stevedore Lawsuit Shines Light On Longshoreman’s Act
A lawsuit was recently filed under The Longshore Harbor’s Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) alleging that a longshoreman was injured due to dangerous conditions aboard the vessel. Under the LHWCA, a shipowner/charterer has a duty of care to turn over a safe vessel to those working at harbors. In this case, the worker fell off… Read More »
COVID-19 Claims Under The Longshoremen’s Act
The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented turmoil across several sectors of the market. One of the major sectors to be impacted was workers’ compensation insurance. In some cases, workers’ compensation insurers were denying claims related to COVID on the basis that the worker could not prove how or where they contracted the illness. This led… Read More »
Family Of Teen Sues County, Boater After Accidental Death
The family of a boy who was killed in a boating accident has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owner of the boat, the county, and the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), according to a recent claim. According to the lawsuit, the boat’s owner had been drinking the day of the accident… Read More »
Boat Crash Kills One Sparking Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A lawsuit has been filed against the operator of a pontoon after the operator was allegedly drunk at the time of operation. The driver was a juvenile operating his father’s boat at the time of the accident. A third defendant has been added to the case for allegedly striking the passenger who fell out…. Read More »
Jones Act Covid Lawsuit Leaves Liability Issues Unclear
A recent lawsuit settled in Louisiana has left liability issues unclear for maritime employers. The lawsuit was related to the death of a sea captain who fell ill with the coronavirus and died. The lawsuit was filed by the sea captain’s wife who faulted the company for negligently exposing him to the coronavirus. While… Read More »
Is The Jones Act Preventing Food From Entering American Borders?
The Jones Act is a complicated and ancient piece of legislation that was designed to protect American shipping interests. In the hundreds of years since its passing, American shipping interests have not become a world player. In fact, America doesn’t have a very large shipping industry at all. This is creating problems for, you… Read More »
Seaman Files Injury Lawsuit After Hurricane Incident
In August, a drillship was hit by Tropical Storm Ida sustaining some damage, limited flooding, and crew injuries. Nine crew members sustained “minor” injuries, but four of those crew members had to be medevaced to shore. Now, one crew member has filed a personal injury lawsuit under The Jones Act, claiming negligence on the… Read More »
The Open Waters Act
The Merchant Marines Act of 1920 is the law in the U.S. Right now, there are border patrol agents scouring the coastlines for foreign-flagged ships delivering foreign parts to U.S. energy companies. The Jones Act and the Merchant Marines Act place restrictions on companies from using foreign parts in the energy industry and place… Read More »
Lawsuits Filed Against British, French Over Migrant Deaths
A French Human Rights agency has filed a lawsuit against its own government and the British government after all but two people died aboard a migrant boat in the English channel. There were 29 people aboard the inflatable craft when it began taking on water. The migrants called French authorities for help, but were… Read More »
Corporation Executed Over Oil Spill
“I refuse to believe that corporations are people until Texas executes one!” I’ve heard people say this before. Corporations get executed all the time; one just recently. But it doesn’t look the same as when a person is executed. Recently, Taylor Energy was “executed” by the U.S. government after its attorneys agreed to liquidate… Read More »
