Admiralty/Maritime Law

Admiralty/Maritime law is a complex and specialized area of the law involving the sea, ships, shipping, fisheries and offshore oil and gas. The international aspects of admiralty law require specific knowledge. The firm has litigated cases in this area involving such matters as representing merchant seaman injured on vessels as well as on behalf of clients suffering business damages as a result of environmental oil spills.

Most noteworthy is the firm’s representation of hundreds of clients in Alaska involving the Exxon Oil Spill Litigation. The firm represents business owners, fishermen, canneries, and clients who are involved in the various subsidiary aspects of commercial fishing and the production of fresh and canned fish for sale and consumption. The firm brought both its class action and admiralty law experience to the litigation of this case as a member of various committees appointed by the Court.

The firm also litigated on behalf of employees of an offshore oil drilling and gas exploration company for improper tax and wage deductions that violated United States admiralty law.

On an individual personal injury level, the firm litigates on behalf of merchant seamen who have been injured during the course of their dangerous work assignments at sea. Their clients have been injured when vessels were unseaworthy due to the presence of oil on the decks and in other locations, where insufficient manpower was committed to a task, and where the officers in charge of the vessel failed to provide adequate instructions and supervision of work tasks. Injuries under these circumstances are significant and serious, often terminating the merchant seaman’s career, requiring vocational retraining, and often resulting in reduced earning capacity. Litigating these cases has involved liability investigation as well as the assembly of vocational and loss of wage evidence. The firm’s contact with renowned experts has enabled it to maximize recoveries for its clients.

In addition, Arnold Levin served in the past as counsel for major maritime labor union.

Contact Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman to discuss your case.