Admiralty / Maritime Law

Skilled Michigan Attorneys in Matters of Admiralty/Maritime Law

Few law firms in Grand Rapids, Michigan practice admiralty/maritime law, but thanks to the relationships Howard P.C. has established with maritime construction firms, manufacturers, marinas and insurance companies, we have become very good at it. We primarily provide defense counsel for these firms in actions taken against them that fall within the admiralty/maritime law area.

Our client list includes Underwater Construction Corporation, Great Lakes Dock & Materials, Lake Cumberland Marine, Cruisers Yachts (a division of KCS International, Inc.), AI Marine Adjusters, Fountain Power Boats, and Michigan Marinas Association.

Practicing law by land and sea

Many legal issues that can occur on land can also occur on the water, such as workers' compensation, criminal offenses, personal injury or employment issues. When they occur on the water, some specific situations related to those issues are covered by admiralty law.

Admiralty law covers all contracts, torts, injuries or offenses that take place on navigable waters. The jurisdiction for matters of admiralty/maritime law has been extended over all public navigable waters including rivers, streams, lakes and other bodies of water. The Jones Act allows the seaman to bring a claim against his/her employer for negligence causing an injury.

Basically, anyone working on a boat, oil rig, marina, dredge, pier or other construction near navigable waters could bring a claim under the Jones Act against the owner of that boat or structure. Issues could range from failure to provide safe equipment or working conditions, failure to hire a competent crew or equipment operator, failure to put guards on machinery or any of a number of acts of negligence.

Admiralty/Maritime law resource

If you require legal advice or active defense in any matter of admiralty/maritime law, please Contact Howard P.C. for a consultation, and a review of our capabilities and experience in this area.