In Florida, employers have an affirmative duty to provide a reasonably safe workplace for its employees.  Therefore, employers can be liable for negligence for injuries sustained by its employees that are ordinarily caused by the unsafe conditions in the workplace. Applying tort law to the current pandemic, a growing question is should the hospitals and health care facilities in Florida be...

In light of the recent developments, such as the WHO and the CDC publishing statements, the various cruise companies have relaxed their cancellation policies for customers. Below is a synopsis of some of the cruise lines current cancellation policies and procedures: Norwegian Cruise Line: All cruises suspended from March 13 to April 11, 2020. Guests who are booked on voyages dated to embark from...

This is often a question I am asked. There are many aspects to international law. For example, environmental law is a facet of international law. There are Treaties and agreements such as the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Vienna Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer, and the Basel Convention on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous...

Pursuant to Fla. Stat. Ann. § 910.006(3), Florida courts are granted special maritime criminal jurisdiction under any of the following circumstances: When a suspect on board a ship is a Florida citizen or resident; A suspect on board a ship is a resident of a state which consents to Florida jurisdiction;A ship’s official or an official from the ship’s flag state places a suspect on board...

Cyber-security law encompasses many businesses. Companies that maintain customer credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or medical information that should remain private and not exposed to third parties are all at risk for cyber security claims. In recent years, massive amounts of customer data, such as credit card numbers being attacked, have increased. Companies that expose customers’...

Perfunctory questions to be asked in a yacht sale is whether the yacht is eligible for sale in the US, and what states sales or use tax will be implicated by a sale. Foreign-built yachts brought into the US for sale or charter must pay a 1.5% customs duty. An exception is if the foreign-flagged yacht is brought into the US for personal use, which in that case, a cruising license can be obtained...

With the hurricane season in full swing, some homeowners and property owners may not understand all the components in their property insurance policy. An insurer issuing a residential property insurance policy must provide the option for hurricane or windstorm coverage and additionally, an option for the policyholder to clearly exclude that coverage. As for insurable interests and subject...

In many initial conversations with a case, many clients ask the question, “Well what about my pain and suffering or emotional distress…I have anxiety, loss of sleep, etc., because of all this.” Although unfortunate, these non-economic damages are not always as easy and available as many people think. In the personal injury context, if tortfeasor liability has been established (the...

So you finally paid the $179 and got yourself the gold membership for Sea Tow for your recreational boat. Remember, your membership is activated within 24 hours from receipt of payment. The membership provides towing coverage for your boat (if registered or owned by you), regardless of who is operating the covered vessel when (I would say the word “if” but any boater knows the word...