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Distracted Tugboat Operator Gets Prison Sentence for Causing Deadly Accident
On July 7, 2010, a tugboat-propelled barge collided with a tour boat near Philadelphia, causing the sightseeing vessel to sink. Two tourists, ages 16 and 20, lost their lives. When…
The Dangers of Distracted Boating
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) warns using an electronic device while boating can be dangerous. The NTSB began voicing concerns about distracted boating following two maritime accidents in late…
Worker Trips Over Rope While Unloading Fishing Boat, Falls Almost Nine Feet
On Jan. 9, Leo Vitale was unloading fish from the Angela Rose at BASE Gloucester seafood exchange when he fell approximately nine feet onto the boat. When the accident occurred,…
COSTA CONCORDIA Evacuation Marked by Chaos, Inexperienced Crew
COSTA CONCORDIA Evacuation Marked by Chaos, Inexperienced Crew Survivors of the COSTA CONCORDIA cruise ship disaster described a chaotic scene as passengers attempted to evacuate the damaged, sinking ship. Media…
COSTA CONCORDIA Sinking is a Potential Environmental Disaster
COSTA CONCORDIA Sinking is a Potential Environmental Disaster In the days since the COSTA CONCORDIA disaster, officials have focused most of their time and energy on caring for passengers and…
The COSTA CONCORDIA Sinking: Is Carnival Protecting Its Passengers or Its Bottom Line?
When something terrible happens, people need to assign blame. When a disaster has the potential to severely affect an entire industry, it is in that industry’s interest to find a…
When Tort Reform Backfires: The BP Oil Spill
On April 20, 2010, an offshore drilling rig known as the Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion claimed the lives of 11 crewmembers and caused the…
Florida Court Says Cruise Ship Passenger Can Seek Punitive Damages in Personal Injury Case
The “hot coffee” lawsuit in the 1990s made punitive damages a fiercely debated topic. Stella Liebeck was riding in her grandson’s car, which he stopped so she could add cream…
Arbitration Agreement Signed by Princess Cruise Lines Crewmember Keeps Her Jones Act Claim Out of Court
Arbitration Agreement Signed by Princess Cruise Lines Crewmember Keeps Her Jones Act Claim Out of Court In yesterday’s post, we discussed binding arbitration clauses, exploring how corporations essentially use them…