Maritime Law

Maritime law practitioners understand the various challenges facing the maritime and admiralty legal community, from varied business concerns to emerging regulatory requirements. Whether you represent a seaman or seawoman injured on a vessel in international waters pursuing a workers’ compensation claim, or could use assistance in determining admiralty jurisdiction for a commercial cruise line, FindLaw’s Corporate Counsel Center Law Library has a collection of articles to assist your practice. Check out developments in the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) or how the Emergency National Flood Insurance Program can help your client receive a limited amount of insurance at less than actuarial rates. Click on the links below to learn more.

Law Library

Maritime Law Articles

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission Criticizes Faliure of Japan’s Harbor Association to Reform Port Practices

Last year's ports disputes between the United States and Japan may re-emerge in the coming weeks as Japan's Harbor Transportation Association ("JHTA") has apparently failed to enact the necessary reforms required by the agreement reached by the two ...
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U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Application of the Clean Water Act to Isolated Intrastate Waters

The United States Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps") and the regulated community have often disagreed about what types of water bodies should be regulated under Section 404(a) of the Clean Water Act ("CWA") -- the so called "dredge and fill" permit ...
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U.S. Supreme Court Severely Narrows U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jurisdiction Over Waters of the United States

Section 404(a) of the Clean Water Act authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to issue permits allowing the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters, which are defined as "waters of the United States." In accordance with ...
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Update on Wetlands Developments

On January 23, 2001, in an article titled U.S. Supreme Court Severely Narrows U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Jurisdiction Over Waters of the United States, I reported on the recent United States Supreme Court Ruling in the case of Solid Waste Agency ...
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Vessels “In Navigation”: Determining Admiralty Jurisdiction

In the March 1997 Trial News Special Focus section, I began a series of articles discussing admiralty and maritime jurisdiction. The first article outlined the issue of establishing seaman status. This article will address another key element of ...
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Wetlands Decision May Simplify Permitting

The complexity and delays typically associated with projects with wetland issues have long challenged developers. The landscape of federal regulation changed suddenly when the Supreme Court, in Solid Waste Associates of Northern Cook County v. US ...
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Wetlands Permitting Alert!

All U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) nationwide permits (NWP) expired on January 21, 1997. Work already permitted under the NWP's in force prior to January 21, 1997 will be grand- fathered in. As part of the reissuing process, the Corps ...
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Wetlands ‘Protection’ Threatens Property Owners

If you own property that contains wetlands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may attempt to assert its regulatory jurisdiction over those wetlands under the federal Clean Water Act. This jurisdictional issue is particularly important for landowners ...
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Wetlands Ruling

To the surprise of absolutely no one, EPA's Environmental Appeals Board narrowly construed the decision in National Mining Association v. U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, 145F.3d 1399 (DC Cir. 1998), which enjoined EPA from enforcing the so-called ...
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High-Low Agreements: A Viable Settlement Alternative

In today's society litigation is nearly unavoidable. It affects all facets of our lives. If you are a professional, malpractice is always a concern. If you are an employer, you must be concerned with worker's compensation and complaints of sexual ...
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