The U.S. Supreme Court has resolved split circuit court decision sin the personal injury case of Dutra Group v. Batterton, ruling that an injured Jones Act seaman cannot recover punitive damages on a common-law maritime claim of unseaworthiness. In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court rejected deckhand Christopher Batterton's bid to lodge a claim for punitive damages in a lawsuit … [Read more...]
Bouchard Sues Glassdoor Over Identity of Anonymous Former Employee
By Barbara Liston (Clearview Post) - Think anonymous reviews in crowd-sourced forums like Yelp and Glassdoor are protected by the First Amendment? A former employee who posted a critical review of New York oil barge operator Bouchard Transportation is about to find out. So far, Bouchard is winning. A California judge in June sided with Bouchard and ordered the job search … [Read more...]
Whistleblowing Ship Master Wins Case Against Matson and Hails Seaman’s Protective Act as Powerful Tool to Require Ship Owners to Maintain Safe Ships
Captain John Loftus, an advocate for merchant marine safety, won a decision from the Administrative Review Board of the Department of Labor that sustained a $1.1 million judgment against a company that punished Loftus for reporting unsafe conditions aboard the company ships. The decision, delivered on May 24, 2018 may also open the gate wider for seamen to qualify for … [Read more...]
MOL Second to Settle Car Carrier Price-Fixing Lawsuit
Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, also known as MOL, has settled a major class-action antitrust lawsuit filed by individual consumers and auto, truck and equipment dealerships against more than a dozen international companies accused of unlawfully driving up shipping costs, according to the law firm representing the plaintiffs. The settlement marks the second … [Read more...]
K-Line Settles Car Carrier Price-Fixing Lawsuit
Japan's Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., more commonly known as K-Line, has agreed to a settlement in an alleged car carrier price-fixing scheme involving more than a dozen international shipping companies, marking the first major settlement in the scandal. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which include consumers and auto and truck and equipment dealerships, claim that Tokyo-based … [Read more...]