Riverboat Casino Qualifies as Vessel for Jones Act Purposes

A split Louisiana appellate court ruled that a riverboat casino was a vessel for purposes of the Jones Act, despite its own precedent to the contrary. Case: Caldwell v. St. Charles Gaming Co., Nos. 18-868 and 18-915, 07/03/2019, published. Facts: Don Caldwell worked for the St. Charles Gaming Co. He was injured in April 2015 at the Grand Palais Casino, a converted riverboat that has been moored at its current location since March 2001. Procedural history: Caldwell filed suit against his employer seeking damages under the Jones Act. St. Charles argued that Caldwell was not a Jones ...