In light of 2021’s Seacor Power tragedy, legal reform or an appeal may be on the way that could have lasting effects on the Jones Act, reports Legal Reader.
The act shields workers in hazardous occupations where state laws, such as workers’ compensation, typically do not apply. Any changes to the Jones Act could affect the 650,000 Americans employed in the U.S. maritime industry.
In 2021, the Seacor Power lift boat capsized south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana. Only six of 19 crewmen were successfully rescued.
Survivors and families of deceased or missing crew members have filed multimillion-dollar lawsuits following the tragedy. Seacor Marine Holdings Inc. subsequently filed a federal lawsuit in New Orleans to limit its liability to $5.7 million, citing maritime law from 1851 to cap payouts to survivors and family members after the Titanic disaster. Read the entire story.
