For nearly 30 years, district courts within the US 5th Circuit have evaluated whether maritime or state law applies to oil and gas service contracts using the 6-factor test from Davis & Sons, Inc. v. Gulf Oil Corp., 919 F.2d 313 (5th Cir. 1990). The Davis factors focused mainly on the nature of the
On First Impression, U.S. 5th Circuit Recognizes its Jurisdiction to Review Summary Judgment Denials on Legal Issues Even After a Jury Trial
The US Fifth Circuit recently published an opinion in Feld Motor Sports, Inc. v. Traxxas, LP, recognizing that it had jurisdiction to review a district court’s denial of a motion for summary judgment on a legal issue. This ruling was the first of its kind in the 5th Circuit, who now joins the 1st,
BOEM Announces Proposal to Sell 73 Million Acres of Gulf of Mexico Leases
With less than one week on the job, newly-confirmed Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke announced that BOEM will offer 73,000,000 acres of lease space located in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas exploration. Proposed Lease Sale 249 is currently scheduled for August 16, 2017, and will include all unleased areas of federal
BSEE Notice to Lessees: Revised OCSLA Civil Penalty Assessment Matrix
On February 3, 2017, BSEE issued its first Notice to Lessees (NTL) of 2017, advising of the revised OCSLA Civil Penalty Assessment Matrix. For the second time in 6 months, BSEE has increased the maximum civil penalty to $42,704 per day per violation, up from $42,017 per day per violation that was set in July
Majority of EDLA Judges Acknowledge Continued Viability of Scarborough to Bar Punitive Damages Against Third Parties in Jones Act Cases
Until the U.S. 5th Circuit gets an opportunity to directly address the continued viability of Scarborough v. Clemco Industries, 391 F.3d 660 (5th Cir. 2004) in the wake of Atlantic Sounding v. Townsend, 557 U.S. 404 (2009), we are likely to see a lack of harmony among the district court judges considering this
U.S. 5th Circuit: Plaintiffs Can Recover Only LHWCA Medical Benefits Paid, Not Billed
The U.S. 5th Circuit has finally weighed in on the application of the collateral source rule to Longshore benefits. Back in June, we discussed the latest case out of the EDLA discussing this issue. On November 17, 2016, the U.S. Fifth Circuit came to the same conclusion: a plaintiff may only recover the amount actually
U.S. 5th Circuit Affirms That Tension Leg Platforms (TLP’s) Are Not Vessels
Given the significantly better benefits available to an injured worker who qualifies under the Longshoreman and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (“LHWCA”) compared to a state workers’ compensation scheme, attorneys for injured workers are constantly trying to fit their client into the LHWCA to maximize their potential recovery. As a result, there is a steady availability
Helpful Information For FEMA Aid and Flood Claims
If you have suffered any type of property damage loss due to the flooding in Louisiana, there are certain steps you can take to maximize your ability to get compensation or benefits for your loss. Unfortunately, too many families were caught unexpected by what is being referred to as a “500 year flood;” many of
EDLA Confirms That LHWCA Medical Benefits Are Not Subject To Collateral Source Rule
The application of the collateral source rule is a common dispute in personal injury litigation because it affects the amount of recoverable damages in the case. When it applies, the defendant is potentially on the hook for a higher amount of past medical expenses, typically, the amount invoiced by the medical providers. When it does
Update: Fights Continue Over the Availability of Punitive Damages in Maritime Cases
Last December, we posted an article addressing the recent conflicted decisions out of the Eastern District of Louisiana on the remaining availability of punitive damages against third parties under general maritime law. You can find that article here. In 2016, the conflict continues…
As we mentioned, Judge Fallon allowed a claim for punitive damages