When a seaman is hurt at work, many employers seek to avoid responsibility by paying “advances” while the seaman is recovering and undergoing medical treatment. By law, the employer of an injured Jones Act seaman is required to pay that seamen maintenance and cure benefits. At the end of a case, employers are not permitted…
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On October 25, 2016, two German shipping companies pleaded guilty to environmental crimes for using what is commonly referred to as a “magic pipe” to discharge pollutant-laden waste into waters of the United States. The companies, which owned and operated the M/V Nils B, acknowledged that they used a black hose to dump used fuel…
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides reporting on the cleanliness of many cruise ship vessels that hail from United States ports, giving travelers the opportunity to determine the historical cleanliness of cruise ship vessels prior to travel. The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program makes reports available to the public as they are completed. CDC…
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Throughout the United States, the number of oil and gas rigs operating offshore has been on a steady increase. As of September 30, 2016, Baker Hughes reported 22 rigs operating offshore, with 21 of those rigs located in the Gulf of Mexico. While still down from 29 operating offshore rigs one year ago, the oil…
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Vessel owners operating in navigable waters have a duty to maintain their vessels in a “seaworthy” condition. Whether an injured seaman has a claim for vessel unseaworthiness is often an issue in maritime injury litigation. “Seaworthiness” is more than a vessel’s ability to travel from Point A to Point B. Courts often define the term…
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Civil litigation seeking recovery for injuries that mariners receive in the course and scope of their employment often draw upon the information obtained by governmental accident investigations. Often, the question that follows “did your employer fill out an accident report?” is: “Did the Coast Guard do an investigation?” The reason why lawyers who represent injured…
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It is easy to be overwhelmed by how many different law firms claim to have expertise in representing injured maritime workers. Injured seamen are looking for the right lawyer while simultaneously dealing with the medical bills and stress of worrying about where the next paycheck will come from. It is important that you hire the…
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On April 19, 2016, at around 9:00 a.m., a tugboat with a crew of five people onboard became submerged underwater on the San Jacinto River. At the time of the incident, the tugboat was located about a half mile south of the I-10 bridge, just outside of Houston, Texas. Four crew members were rescued from…
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