Some states, such as Louisiana, have restrictive statutes against contracting for defense and indemnity provisions. Under federal maritime law, however, these defense and indemnity provisions may be permitted. This distinction creates frequent tension in offshore injury lawsuits between the application of the bordering state law (which may prohibit defense and indemnity provisions) and the application

In maritime law, the “Act of God” defense – also known as force majeure – was once a reliable shield for operators facing liability after a natural disaster. If a storm, hurricane, or earthquake caused damage that no human skill could have prevented, the party could, in theory, escape legal responsibility. But in practice –