In an action based on Defendant’s alleged refusal to pay maintenance and cure to Plaintiff for injuries he suffered while working on Defendant’s tugboat, the District Court’s order holding that punitive damages were available is affirmed where punitive damages for the willful and wanton disregard of the maintenance and cure obligation remain available as a matter of general maritime law.

Read Atlantic Sounding Co., Inc. v. Townsend, No. 08-214

Appellate Information

Argued March 2, 2009

Decided June 25, 2009

Justices

Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court.

Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion.

Counsel

David W. McCreadie, Lau Lane Pieper Conley & McCreadie, P.A., Tampa, FL

G.J. Rod Sullivan, Jacksonville, FL

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Civil Rights

Block on Trump’s Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court

Criminal

Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records

Politicians Can’t Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules