Admiralty Litigation
Thompson Coburn’s admiralty litigation attorneys regularly handle matters including property damage, contract disputes, limitation of liability actions and cargo claims, as well as personal injury and death cases under the Jones Act, the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers Compensation Act and the General Maritime Law. Our admiralty trial lawyers represent maritime operators in collision cases involving other vessels, water structures and government facilities. We have in-depth experience handling government contract matters, in rem foreclosure actions, and contractual disputes involving charter parties.
Because river vessel accidents can result in casualties, our admiralty attorneys routinely handle emergency representations in maritime investigations involving everything from single drownings to multiple deaths, explosions and large-scale incidents, such as the White River breakaway, in which 30 vessels sank; the towboat/train derailment in Fountaingrove, Wisconsin; and major collisions on the inland rivers involving gaming and towing vessels. Many of these large-scale investigations involve dealing with governmental agencies and representing companies before the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Our admiralty attorneys have tried cases in state and federal courts, including in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. Our lawyers regularly appear in court, handling jury and non-jury trials. Attorneys in the admiralty litigation group are active members of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. Our admiralty team often works with other professionals, including investigators, pilots, engineers and an in-house medical specialist who assists with complex medical cases.