In September Richard Schechter updated almost 200 Houston lawyers on recent developments in maritime law at the President’s Personal Injury Trial Attorney Seminar. Among the issues he addressed were: how will Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach affect vessel status determinations and who is a Jones Act seaman; whether Lozman will have an impact on offshore workers who are injured or killed working on offshore drilling rigs; what is the impact of the recent Fifth Circuit case, Baker v. Hercules Offshore, on offshore workers injured on the outer continental shelf and their right to bring Jones Act and general maritime law claims for injuries or death; developments in the seaman’s right to obtain punitive damages in light of Exxon Shipping Co v. Baker and Atlantic Sounding Co, Inc. v. Townsend; recent developments in maintenance and cure law, including the right to recover punitive damages for willful and wanton failure to pay benefits; and the coverage of the Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act and how it will be impacted by the recent Fifth Circuit case New Orleans Depot Services, Inc. v. Director.
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