No Expansion of the Longshoreman Definition

Coming before the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals  was the question of whether the Claimant was covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation... More

Limitation of Liability Claim Dismissed as Time Barred

The Limitation Act allows a vessel owner to limit liability for damage or injury to the value of the vessel or the owner’s interest... More

Geographical Proximity is Not the Only Factor in Deciding OCSLA Jurisdiction

Robert Lewis, Jr. filed suit under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), alleging injuries to his left elbow, cervical spine, and lumbar spine as... More

New District Director for the Sixth Compensation District

Kristina Hall, a longtime Claims Examiner in the Jacksonville office of OWCP, has been named as the new District Director for the Sixth Compensation... More

No Cause of Action Against Coworker’s Lending Employer

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana recently issued an interesting decision applying the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act’s borrowed... More

Mineral Lessee Does Not Have a Duty to Police the Waterways it Leases

In June 2014, Danny Luke was checking his crab traps when his skiff struck a submerged piling.  Mr. Luke’s vessel was damaged by the... More

D.C. Circuit Rules No Intentional Tort Exception Under Defense Base Act

On June 2, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that there is no intentional tort exception... More

OWCP Issues Updated Forms LS-207 and LS-208

OWCP has revised its mandatory Forms LS-207, Notice of Controversion, and LS-208, Notice of Final Payment or Suspension of Compensation Payments. The changes are... More

Employer’s Lax Investigation into Crew Member’s Maintenance and Cure Claim Ends up Costing Big

If a seaman becomes ill or is injured while in the service of the vessel, then the shipowner owes the seaman maintenance and cure... More

Liability for Medical Malpractice

The Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit (Alabama, Florida and Georgia) has opened the door to a potential flood of liability exposure for... More