Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The maritime industry offers a major economic impact to the River Parishes. With nearly 50 years of experience serving the region, Attorney-at-Law Robert R. Faucheux Jr. has handled countless maritime cases for clients who sustained injuries while working on the navigable waters of Louisiana.

The Faucheux Law Firm handles maritime claims under the Jones Act and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, which are mutually exclusive in coverage.

The Jones Act has roots in the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which was created to regulate maritime shipping practices in the United States. It provides remedies for maritime workers who become injured or ill on a vessel such as a container ship, tanker, barge, tugboat, cruise ship or even an off shore drilling rig. The law covers negligence of the owner/operator of the vessel or another employee working on the vessel; however, negligence is not a requirement to seek remedy from the Jones Act. The law also provides for remedies for a worker when there is proof of “unseaworthiness” of the vessel, which does not have to be directly related to the injury or illness.

The individual seeking a remedy must prove seaman status, showing that they contribute to work on the vessel. Seamen can be further categorized into blue water, involving work in an area of open water, or brown water, working on the river. Compensation available under the Jones Act may cover economic damages such as lost income and cost of living while out of work and recovering, or non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

While the Jones Act covers seamen on a vessel, the Longshore Act applies to land-based workers in the maritime industry. In the River Parishes, it’s important to consider which side of the levee the individual is working on. Workers on the land side would fall under Louisiana workman’s compensation, while those injured while working on the river side of the levee could receive compensation from the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

The Longshore Act can apply to those working on docks, terminals, piers, and other facilities that don’t involve being stationed on a vessel. Under this law, workers can collect a percentage of weekly wages, medical, and transportation for as long as the injury persists. Exclusions exist, including injuries caused by the employee’s intoxication or cases where an employee was injured while intentionally trying to harm themselves or others.

The Faucheux Law Firm ensures clients have access to medical treatment after being injured on the job and will not charge for legal services unless a case is won.

Located at 10900 Louisiana Highway 3125 Ste. H in Lutcher and 197 Belle Terre Blvd. in LaPlace, the Faucheux Law Firm also assists with estate planning and wills, power-of-attorneys, successions, personal injury, automobile accidents, workman’s compensation, and family law.

Faucheux was born and raised in St. James Parish and has practiced law in the River Parishes since 1975. His diverse practice has allowed him to represent clients in a variety of civil and criminal litigation in both state and federal courts of Louisiana. He previously served in the state legislature, representing St. John and St. James from 1996 to 2008. He also serves as chief counsel for the town Gramercy and attorney for the town of Sorrento.

The Faucheux Law Firm can be reached by calling 225-417-7028 (Lutcher) or 985-651-2889 (LaPlace). For more information, visit https://faucheuxlawfirm.usattorneys.com/