by David J. Farrell, Jr.
Probably the biggest surprise facing a non-admiralty lawyer handling a maritime casualty is the possibility that a vessel owner might be able to limit its dollar liability to the post-casualty value of the vessel and force all related litigation into one federal court forum without a jury.
This applies to both commercial vessels and recreational boats — even jet skis — and raises important issues for the lawyer representing a vessel owner in conjunction with insurance defense counsel as well as for lawyers representing victims with personal injury, death, and property damage claims against the vessel owner.
