Recent Updates
August 30, 2010
Alaska Fishing Boat Sinks After Hitting Iceberg; Crew of Three Saved By Nearby Vessels
August 26, 2010
Tug Boat Deckhand Suffers Head Injury
August 12, 2010
Marine Electrician Recovers $740,000 Jones Act Verdict After Fall From Ladder
August 12, 2010
Crewman On Fishing Vessel RONDYS Suffers Head Injury
August 09, 2010
Capsized Charter Boat Found Off Vancouver Island
August 04, 2010
Fisherman Suffers Head Injury Off Oregon Coast
July 29, 2010
Court Rules Statements In Crewman's Accident Report Not Admission of No Fault
July 28, 2010
Seattle Fishing Vessel Aground in Prince William Sound
July 09, 2010
Alaska Fishermen's Fund Benefits Increased to $10,000
July 09, 2010
Price Fixing Suit Filed Against Pacific Seafoods
Legal Cases and Concerns
Fishing Company Sanctioned for Improper Ex-parte Contacts With Injured Seamans Treating Doctors
Posted by: James M. Beard
October 08, 2009
A Court Order has been issued for sanctions against United States Seafoods for having improper ex-parte communications with an injured seaman's treating doctor. An insurance adjuster for the Alaska fishing company contacted the injured seaman's treating doctor to seek an opinion relating to whether or not the seaman was at maximum medical cure. The seaman's attorney had previously revoked all authorizations given to the insurance adjuster to obtain medical information about the seaman. The Court had also previously ordered the company to pay back maintenance. The Court sanctioned United States Seafoods finding that the ex-parte contacts to be "highly improper" and clearly without "legal basis." An Order was also issued prohibiting United States Seafoods from engaging in future ex-parte contact with the injured seaman's treating health care providers, even if they have information relevant to issues relating to maintenance and cure. The King County Superior Court Case is Holloway v. Alaska Beauty LLC and United States Seafoods.
