Admiralty & Maritime
Watch Out When Ending Maintenance and Cure
A fundamental right of seamen is maintenance and cure benefits. A shipowner owes the seaman these benefits without regard to fault if he is... More
Louisiana Third Circuit Changes Course on Vessel Status of Riverboat Casinos
The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal recently addressed an issue it has confronted a number of times in the past: whether a riverboat... More
U.S. Court has Personal Jurisdiction Over Foreign Ship Management Company
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently published an opinion, Carmona v. Leo Ship Management, Inc., addressing the proper jurisdiction of a lawsuit involving... More
U.S. Supreme Court: Punitive Damages Not Available to Plaintiff in Unseaworthiness Claim
In a much-anticipated decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held this morning that punitive damages are not available in unseaworthiness claims. Justice Alito authored the... More
Recent Opinion from Eastern District of Louisiana Addresses Litigation Funding Companies
The rise of litigation finance companies is now well-documented, up to and including Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker. As noted by the ABA Journal,... More
Fifth Circuit Affirms Exclusion of Offshore Employee’s Drug Test Evidence and Substantial Jury Award
In a recent admiralty and maritime case, Hale v. Wood Grp. PSN, Inc., No. 18-31090, 2019 WL 1773276, at *2 (5th Cir. Apr. 22,... More
Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Jones Act Case, Dutra Group v. Batterton
On Monday, March 25, 2019, the United States Supreme Court held oral argument on Dutra Group v. Batterton in an attempt to resolve a circuit... More
The Internet of Things: A Discovery Nightmare
In a meeting this week, Julie Lafargue, who recently joined MBLB as a member, encountered a “smart coffee cup,” touted by its manufacturer as... More
Jones Act Case: No Automatic Liability for Employer for Medical Providers’ Negligence
In a recent Jones Act case, Randle v. Crosby Tugs, L.L.C., 911 F.3d 280 (5th Cir. 2018), the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth... More
Internal Revenue Service Issues 2019 Optional Standard Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2019 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business,... More