Maritime Law
Have you been injured on the water?
South Louisiana and the Gulf Coast are home to some of the nation’s largest ports, the largest river and its most active offshore oil fields. Because of this, many of us make our living on or near the water.
Unfortunately, this can be dangerous work. We have represented countless clients injured on barges, tugs, boats, ships or rigs. If you were injured on a vessel or if at the time of your injury you were the member of the crew of any vessel, your claim may be covered by a special set of laws and your lawyer should have experience in the Jones Act, Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Seaman’s Protection Act and the General Maritime Law of the United States among others, as there are many potential pitfalls for the unwary.
If you or a family member are injured on or near the water or while a member of the crew of any vessel, barge or rig, the maritime insurance claim world can be extremely complex. We are here to help.
The Seaman’s Protection Act (SPA)(46 U.S.C. § 2114) is a federal whistle blower law which prohibits persons from retaliating against seamen for engaging in certain protected activities pertaining to compliance with maritime safety laws and regulations. The rights of mariners with Coast Guard credentials who were terminated for reporting employer conduct that violates United States laws were very limited under federal law before responsibility for investigating and enforcing of the SPA was moved from the Coast Guard to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration as part of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. Following this change in the enforcement and administration of the SPA, there were many questions regarding the procedures and applicable evidentiary burdens.