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Maritime Law Firm Defending Employers Against Federal Statutes & Regulations

We are proud of the longstanding relationships we have built with clients throughout the maritime community. Kaufman Dolowich attorneys take the time to get to know our clients and approach every case from their perspective. Whether our maritime law firm is working to negotiate a favorable settlement or litigating a maritime claim in court, our goal is to help our clients achieve the best possible outcome for their individual situation.

Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act Claims

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal statute designed to provide medical benefits and compensation for lost income to longshoremen, harbor workers, dock men, ship repairmen, ship builders, and other maritime workers who are injured during the course of their employment. In the event that a work-related injury or accident results in the death of an employee covered under the LHWCA, the Act also provides death benefits to the decedent’s eligible survivors.

Our attorneys have deep experience counseling and defending clients in connection with claims filed under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Our maritime law firm has represented scores of LHWCA employers in claims initiated by covered employees in a worker’s compensation setting before the United States Department of Labor (DOL) and in lawsuits brought pursuant to Section 905(b) of the LHWCA in state and federal court. Our clients include longshore employers operating across the maritime industry, such as stevedoring companies, marine terminals and marine contractors. We also defend the insurance carriers who insure employers against these types of maritime claims.

Our Premier Jones Act Defense Team

The Jones Act is a federal statute that provides seamen with the right to sue their employers and vessel owners for injuries sustained while working aboard a vessel. Under the Jones Act statute, a “seaman” is defined as someone who spends a significant amount of his or her time working as a crewmember, officer or captain of a vessel that is “in navigation.” While the Jones Act is limited to seamen, the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) is more expansive and allows surviving family members and dependents to recover benefits when a seaman or any other maritime employee working at least three nautical miles off of the shore of the United States is killed in an offshore accident involving negligent or wrongful acts.

The attorneys in Kaufman Dolowich’s Maritime and Admiralty Law Practice have decades of combined experience defending owners of blue and brown water vessels against lawsuits brought under the Jones Act and the Death on the High Seas Act. We also represent the interests of insurance carriers who protect vessels owners against these types personal injury and death claims, including both domestic insurance companies and international Protection and Indemnity Clubs.

Minimize Exposure and Financial Liability

We are recognized as one of the nation’s leading Jones Act defense groups. Our maritime lawyers have tried numerous cases to verdict in state and federal courts throughout New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts and have handled appeals at all levels, including the United States Supreme Court. We understand that Jones Act and DOHSA cases tend to involve high damage claims that expose our clients to substantial financial liability. When a maritime personal injury or death claim arises, Kaufman Dolowich lawyers undertake a comprehensive investigation of the incident which often includes collaborating with industry experts on issues of liability and damages. We keep our clients fully apprised at every stage of the proceedings and partner with them to build a strong defense strategy that protects their business and financial interests.

Our Maritime Law Firm Develops Individualized Defense Plans

In every LHWCA or Jones Act case that we handle our maritime lawyers work to achieve a prompt and favorable outcome for our clients. Recognizing that maritime claims can expose companies throughout the maritime community to substantial financial liability, we are committed to doing everything possible to protect our clients’ legal rights and interests. Our maritime law firm works closely with clients to build an individualized defense plan tailored to achieve their desired objectives. While we are often able to successfully resolve the claim early in the legal process, our lawyers are prepared to take any LHWCA or Jones Act case to trial at the request of the client. Contact us to learn how we can help you. 

ATTORNEY NAME POSITION OFFICE
Co-Managing Partner of New Jersey Office
Chair of Maritime Practice Group
Hackensack, NJ , Bloomfield Hills, MI
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