In March of 2011, in Tuyen Thanh Mai v. American Seafoods Company, LLC, the Washington State Court of Appeals upheld the ruling that American Seafoods Company (ASC) did not have the right to deny seaman Tuyen Thanh Mai maintenance and cure when she did not agree to ASC’s demand for…
Last week the F/V RANDI capsized near the entrance to Coos Bay. Three men were aboard the boat, which was reportedly loaded with gear in anticipation of the opening of the dungeness crab season. Jim Peterson of Coos Bay was reportedly in the wheel house of the vessel when the…
The usual rule in litigation is that each party pays its own attorney’s fee. It’s called the “American Rule.” There are exceptions to this rule, however. One such exception has to do with maintenance and medical bills of a seaman who is injured while working. In a case pending in…
A pending case in the Washington State Supreme Court is one of the first in the nation to deal with when and how much in punitive damages can be awarded. Punitive damages are awarded to punish bad behavior. The case deals with one of a seaman’s fundamental rights: the right…
A nineteen year old crewman has reportedly been seriously injured while working on the deck of the 38-foot fishing vessel KITTIWAKE. The accident happened on August 18th when a line under tension snapped, striking Daniel Cornelius in the head, causing facial injuries and knocking him unconscious. The United States Coast…
The Coast Guard in San Francisco received a distress call from the crew of the 31-foot commercial fishing vessel TWO SONS, Wednesday, July 20, about eight miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge. Reports informed the Coast Guard that the vessel was taking on water with two people on board.…
The Coast Guard in Boston was notified Tuesday, July 12 by the crew of the stern trawler CAPTAIN MARK that a crewman required assistance for an arm laceration 54 miles east of Merrimack River. A Coast Guard Station Gloucester rescue boat and crew responded to the call. Medical personnel assessed…
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received an alert from an emergency beacon registered to the PENNY V Friday, July 8, after the 68-foot fishing vessel began to take on water west of Sanibel Island, FL. The Coast Guard diverted the crew of the 210-foot Coast Guard Cutter RESOLUTE…
One man is dead and another is seriously injured after the vessel they were traveling in capsized Saturday, July 16, in outer Boston Harbor, Mass. According to State Police spokesman David Procopio, the 30-foot vessel HIGH LIFE “broke apart and capsized for reasons still under investigation,” launching both passengers into…
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received notification Tuesday July 12, that the 36-foot fishing vessel LOONEY TUNA was taking on water and had capsized. Three of the six on board reportedly suffered injuries. The Coast Guard launched two helicopter rescue crews and one boat crew to the scene, where…