Admiralty/Maritime
Louisiana Maritime Law Firm
Keogh Cox has over thirty years of experience helping domestic and international businesses and insurers navigate the complexities of maritime law, whether the underlying incidents occurred offshore or on land. We have represented clients in cases involving accidents, serious injury claims, and other major maritime non-cargo, non-hull losses, with dozens of favorable verdicts and settlements throughout the state and federal courts of Louisiana.
Our breadth of practice provides us with an advantage in maritime cases. For example, our tort, employment, business, product liability, and insurance law experience often comes into play when accidents occur on ships, platforms or vessels.
Many of our lawyers have experience in maritime cases, an area of the law that relates to a range of issues, to include:
- Scope of Maritime Jurisdiction
- Maintenance and Cure
- The Seaman’s Employment Contract, Wages and Compromise of Claims
- Maritime Insurance
- Towage and Pilotage
- Longshore Claims
- Maritime Tort Law
- Maritime Contracts
- Collision Law
- Worker Injury Claims
- Wrongful Death
- Platform and Vessel Injuries
- Joint and Several Liability, Indemnity and Contribution
Recent Experience Highlights
Outside “General Counsel” Serving All Maritime Needs
Where we started: A global company that provides services in the Gulf of Mexico and other maritime locations was in the market for general litigation counsel to advise on maritime personal injury cases, develop maritime contracts and assist with maritime business disputes. Our roadmap: Keogh Cox developed strategies that allow the client to proactively avoid risk, maintain beneficial contractual relationships and defend maritime injury cases in the event they arise. Resolution: Keogh Cox has maintained this successful attorney-client relationship for over two decades.
Use of federal court motion practice to reduce and eliminate exposure
Where we started: A global company was sued by a Jones Act seaman who claimed to have suffered personal injuries during a lifting incident. Our roadmap: Before the lawsuit, Keogh Cox had assisted the client with employment procedures, to include the development of pre-employment screening materials. Because these materials were on hand, and the claimant had misrepresented his pre-employment medical conditions, we asserted a McCorpen misrepresentation or fraud defense via a Motion for Summary Judgment. Resolution: Our strategy to explore the claimant’s credibility reduced the possible exposure. The claim settled for a nominal sum and included a contribution from another defendant.
Recovery of Maintenance and Cure Benefits Paid
Where we started: A client was faced with two personal injury claims made by employees who were allegedly injured during a vessel collision. Maintenance, cure and unearned wage payments were made to both employees as required by law. Our roadmap: A lawsuit ensued between the two entities involved in the vessel collision. Keogh Cox intervened in this suit to recover all maintenance and cure benefits paid from the party at fault for the accident. Resolution: We successfully recouped the amounts paid by the client from the party that caused the vessel collision.