Transportation & Energy Issues

Defendant Claims Miami Law Firm Paid for Settlement Info

A defendant cruise line has filed motions seeking to disqualify a Miami plaintiffs firm from pursuing 75 pending claims by passengers and workers, contending that the Wingate Law Firm retained two investigators who paid a cruise line employee to provide confidential settlement information. The investigators allegedly paid a Royal Caribbean…

Jan 16, 2008 8:02 PM CST

States’ River Dispute Could Lead to Unusual Supreme Court Split

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether Delaware can block New Jersey from allowing a natural-gas storage and processing facility on the Delaware River. At issue are the states’ rights under a 1905 agreement that allowed each state to exercise “riparian jurisdiction” over the river, jurisdiction that extends to the…

Nov 28, 2007 5:25 PM CST

Possible Split in Exxon Punitives Case

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. has recused himself in Exxon Mobil’s appeal of a $2.5 billion punitive damages award, raising the possibility of a 4-4 split. A tie vote in the dispute over damages for the Exxon Valdez oil spill would have the effect of upholding the 9th U.S. Circuit…

Oct 30, 2007 11:14 AM CDT

High Court to Consider $2.5B Exxon Valdez Award

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether maritime law permits a $2.5 billion punitive damages award against Exxon for the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Exxon’s cert petition (PDF posted by SCOTUSblog) had claimed the award was excessive both under maritime law and constitutional due process protections, ABAJournal.com noted…

Oct 29, 2007 2:43 PM CDT

Med-Mal Plaintiffs Fight Losing Battles in Cruise Line Suits

Plaintiffs in more than 40 medical malpractice lawsuits filed against cruise lines in the past decade are running into a legal roadblock that shields ship owners from liability. Legal precedent holds that ship owners may be liable for negligent medical care of crew members but not passengers, the Wall Street…

Oct 24, 2007 2:29 PM CDT

Spain Seeks Sunken Ship’s Riches

Spain has filed claims to a treasure-filled sunken ship found in the Atlantic Ocean. Odyssey Marine Exploration of Tampa, Fla., announced two weeks ago that it had discovered the ship filled with 500,000 gold and silver coins. The company says the ship was outside Spanish territorial waters. James Goold of…

Jun 1, 2007 8:43 PM CDT

Dangerous Waters

Difficulties of Cruise Ship Practice Keep Number of Litigators ‘Steady as She Goes’

Aug 11, 2006 11:42 PM CDT