A decision by the highest court in the US state of Washington has raised the stakes for shipowners and operators facing crew claims for punitive damages in unseaworthiness lawsuits, legal experts said Monday.
The Washington Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that a mariner who sues for unseaworthiness can recover punitive damages.
Before that decision, federal and state courts had previously precluded awarding such damages, which are awarded in addition to regular damages as a way to punish a defendant for egregious behaviour, in such claims.
Fishing
