Q: I want to sue the captain of a ship I was working on for an injury sustained on his vessel while located off the coast
of Florida. He's not American though. Does that matter?
A: You do not provide enough facts for a definitive answer. If you are a foreign seaman working under a collective bargaining agreement on a foreign flag vessel with a mandatory arbitration remedy, then, the answer is no. If you are a seaman whose employment originated in a US port, and you were injured offshore, you possibly can sue the vessel. There are jurisdiction issues. The vessel could be owned by a soverign or government, which has special rules. There are many potential issues. Call a good maritime lawyer. Explain the facts. Tell the lawyer about the facts and your injuries.
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