Stephen Hanemann

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The United States Supreme Court recently held that a single standard of causation now applies when assessing the negligence of an employer and employee under FELA. Norfolk Southern R. Co. v. Timothy Sorrell, 127 S.Ct. 799, 166 L.Ed. 2d 638(1/10/07) (U.S. Reporter citation unavailable).  Because the Jones Act is modeled closely upon FELA’s statutory language, federal courts tend to apply the same analysis of negligence issues arising under both statutes. It appears that the Sorrell decision supports the conclusion of earlier maritime cases indicating that a Jones Act employer is held to the same standard of causation in a negligence analysis as his seaman-employee
Continue Reading Jones Act and FELA Employers Enjoy Same Negligence Standard as Employees

The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has unequivocally held that a shipowner-employer may pursue a claim for reimbursement of costs for damage to property against its negligent seaman-employee. Withhart v. Otto Candies, 431 F.3d 840 (5th Cir. 2005). The seaman-employee in Witthart was a mate, or relief captain, who allegedly left the wheel house to attend to personal business while in command of the vessel. During his absence, the vessel, navigating through congested waters with no captain at the helm, collided with and damaged another vessel.
Continue Reading Jones Act Employers Have Recourse Against Negligent Employees

The issue of recovery of non-pecuniary damages [1] by a Jones Act seaman is one that often confronts both the seaman’s employer and non-employer third-parties from whom damages are sought. No case sets forth a more succinct resolution of this issue than Scarborough v. ClemcoInd., 391 F.3d 660 (5th Cir. 2004). Under the Fifth Circuit’s holding in Scarborough and its progeny, both Jones Act employers and non-employer third-parties sued by either a seaman or his survivors are able to rest easy knowing that they will not have to pay non-pecuniary damages – at least for now considering that no case has given negative treatment to the Scarborough decision.
Continue Reading Recovery of Non-Pecuniary Damages Prohibited Under Jones Act