Just as the FRSA protects rail workers who report safety hazards, the Seaman’s Protection Act (SPA) protects mariners who report safety issues directly to the U.S. Coast Guard. But the American division of the Maersk international shipping conglomerate prohibits seaman from reporting safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard without first reporting internally. In
Seaman's Protection Act retaliation lawyer
Recent Seaman Protection Act Whistleblower Developments
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Seaman's Protection Act
A $1.15 Million SPA Whistleblower Settlement
It took four long years, but a full measure of justice has come to my client Captain John Loftus. John was the Captain of a 850 foot long container ship who took safety seriously. After his employer ignored his internal reports of unsafe conditions, John went outside to the American Bureau of Shipping and Coast Guard, who forced Horizon Lines to correct the conditions. Horizon then found a pretext to fire John from his Master position. Both the Administrative Law trial Judge and the Administrative Review Board appeals judges ruled in his favor, ordering over $1.15 million in back pay, emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and costs. John refused to compromise, ultimately forcing the Company to pay the full $1.15 million, with no confidentiality. So hats off to John for insisting on clearing his reputation while being made whole.Continue Reading Recent Seaman Protection Act Whistleblower Developments
Landmark Seaman’s Protection Act Retaliation Award
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Seaman's Protection Act
Under the Seaman’s Protection Act (SPA), merchant marine seamen enjoy the same protection against retaliation that railroad workers enjoy under the Federal Rail Safety Act. But due to the shipping industry’s pervasive culture of retaliation against seamen who report safety hazards to outside enforcement agencies, hardly any SPA cases have been brought. Now comes
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When the FRSA’s 180 Day Window Opens
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
It is important to know when the 180 window for filing a Federal Rail Safety Act complaint opens. This is from OSHA’s Summary explaining its Final Rules for FRSA cases:
To be timely, a complaint must be filed with OSHA within 180 days of when the alleged violation occurs. This is considered to be when
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