Fifth Circuit Moves Seaman’s Negligence Lawsuit Into Arbitration

An offshore supply company avoided litigating an injured seaman’s negligence lawsuit in court as a result of a Fifth Circuit decision pushing the case into private arbitration.

Jeremiah Hill failed to challenge the validity of a clause in his dispute resolution agreement with Jackson Offshore that sends questions over the arbitrability of a dispute to arbitration, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Tuesday.

The court appeared to reach its conclusion while ignoring its own precedent, which one judge pointed out in a concurring opinion even as another complained about the overlooked circuit standard.

The decision shows ...