Circuits Split on Punitive Damages for Unseaworthiness

An overriding premise of admiralty and maritime law is the quest for uniformity. Over the centuries, this has proven problematic, as this area of... More

The Extent of Employers’ Obligations to Employees Continues to be Dynamic

From a defense perspective, the most common concern with defending a workers’ compensation claim is not whether the employee is entitled to benefits, but... More

OSHA Issues Memorandum Outlining Acceptable Standards For Silicia In Maritime Industry

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued a memorandum outlining new standards for general industry and maritime requiring employers to limit work... More

NINTH CIRCUIT FINDS SUICIDE ATTEMPT BY LONGSHOREMAN COMPENSABLE

In 2001, Claimant William Kealoha was injured while working as a ship laborer.  Kealoha fell 25 to 50 feet off a barge onto a... More

President Trump Waives Jones Act in Response to Relief Efforts in Puerto Rico

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, more commonly known as the Jones Act, was passed to promote and maintain the American merchant marine by,... More

New Version of Nautical Rules of the Road Published

The United States Coast Guard has published a new amalgamated version of the nautical Rules of the Road to improve the readability and understanding... More

NINTH CIRCUIT HOLDS DEFENSE BASE ACT’S ZONE OF SPECIAL DANGER APPLICABLE TO LOCAL NATIONALS

Claimant, a citizen of the Marshall Islands, was employed as a civilian defense contractor based in the Kwajalein Atoll, which houses the U.S. Army... More

Federal Policy Remains that Arbitration Agreements and their Broad Construction are Favored

Plaintiff filed a seaman’s complaint alleging that he incurred injury while working as a crew member on one of the defendant’s vessels because the... More

Fifth Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment and Allows Consideration of Plaintiff’s Expert

The plaintiff allegedly sustained injuries when he fell on a vessel owned by his employer.  He filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court... More

White House Budget Proposal Could Result in Huge Financial Loss for Gulf Coast Region

On May 23, 2017, at a time when oil prices have started to rise and energy companies have regained optimism about the prospect of... More