Recent Articles

2011: Year in Review for Arnold & Itkin

December 29, 2011 18:14

The year of 2011 was yet another monumental year for Arnold & Itkin, LLP. Over the years, we have been proud to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients and this was no different in 2011. In fact, we are proud to announce that we successfully...

Second Circuit: ALJ Could Take Judicial Notice Of AMA Guidelines

September 08, 2011 18:27

Staubley v. Electric Boat Corp., No. 10-3186 (2nd Cir. September 1, 2011) (Summary Order On Petition For Review) Clyde Staubley sought review of a Benefits Review Board decision affirming an award issued by an administrative law judge (ALJ) under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’...

Government Maintains Plan To Sell New Offshore Gulf Oil Leases

September 08, 2011 02:50

The federal government continues in its plans to sell offshore oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time since the catastrophic destruction of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in April 2010.  The sale, scheduled to take place in New Orleans on December 14, 2011, is anticipated...

Cruise Passenger Could Recover Punitive Damages Under General Maritime Law

September 07, 2011 16:44

Lobegeiger v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc., No. 11-21620-CIV (S.D. Fla. Aug. 23, 2011) (Altonaga, J.) Passenger Elise Lobegeiger was seriously injured at sea while aboard a Celebrity Cruises, Inc., vessel.  Lobegeiger had attempted to adjust the heavy back panel of a deck lounger when the panel...

Recent Deepwater Horizon Rulings Address Key Issues In Litigation

September 06, 2011 16:48

United States District Judge Carl Barbier recently issued a broad order on pending motions to dismiss in the multi-district litigation arising out of the April 2010 loss of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. (In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater Horizon” in the Gulf of Mexico on...

Coast Guard Investigates, Reports No Leakage From Deepwater Horizon Well Head

August 28, 2011 15:22

The United States Coast Guard reports that two remotely operated vehicles deployed to the Macondo 252 well head in the Gulf of Mexico have confirmed there is no oil leaking from the well head. According to the agency, as part of the investigation into recent reports of sheen observed in the...

Break In Service Negated Seaman Status

August 27, 2011 16:48

A rig worker’s three-year hiatus from employment meant that his status as a seaman failed to carry over when he was injured while re-employed in off-vessel jobs. Abram v. Nabors Offshore Corporation, No. 11-20166 (August 24, 2011) (per curiam) (unpublished) In a summary calendar decision,...

Houston Maritime Injury Attorneys Applaud Commercial Shrimping Safety Program

August 24, 2011 16:20

Houston maritime attorneys Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin recently applauded an initiative to reduce deaths and injuries in the commercial shrimping industry by providing customized safety classes and training for Gulf shrimpers. The program is the result of a partnership between the University of ...

CRUISE Act Would Address Foreign Cruise Ships' Access To Domestic Ports

August 20, 2011 16:44

Proposed legislation introduced last month by U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold, of Texas, seeks to amend federal maritime law to address what Rep. Farenthold believes is an outmoded restriction on the ability of foreign cruise ships to call at United States ports. Under current law, the...

Shrimping Vessel Saved By Prompt Action On Part Of Crew, Coast Guard

August 18, 2011 16:21

The United States Coast Guard recently responded to a commercial shrimping vessel in distress off the Texas coast.  The prompt action by the shrimp boat's crew in summoning aid, and the Coast Guard’s fast and effective response, prevented the vessel from sinking some 14 miles out to...