Today, I had the pleasure of being part of a Maritime Panel at my alma mater , St. Thomas University School of Law. Joining me on the Panel were other St. Thomas alumni, Christine M. Dimitriou of Mase Lara Eversole and Kerry A. Nierenberg of Lipcon, Marguiles, Alsina and Winkleman. Photo of Carnival Triumph The topics discussed were Class Actions against cruise lines, the operational realities of a Costa Concordia tragedy occurring in the U.S., exclusions in marine insurance policies, unseaworthiness and the current status of punitive damages for unseaworthiness and other maritime claims. However the topic which garnered the most lively discussion was the current state of the law regarding ship owner liability for negligence of ships' doctors and medical staff. Under Mascolo v. Costa Crociere, S.p.A ., 726 F. Supp. 1285 (S.D. Fla. 1989), a ship operator has no vicarious liability for negligence of a ship's doctor on the ground that it has no control over the physic...
This blog discusses the latest trends in shipping, affecting shipowners, operators, ports, marinas, shippers, insurers and others with a stake in the maritime industry.