Coastal Virginia boasts one of the busiest ports on the East Coast and Huntington Ingalls Industries is Virginia’s largest industrial employer. The Port has the deepest water harbor on the United States East Coast, with waterways on the James, York and Elizabeth Rivers. The shipyard is aligned on the James River and boasts an ever growing and expansive work force. As both of these industries grow, so will the need for professionals who understand and can navigate the complexities of the federal act. This is where the specialty of Longshore Law plays such a vital role.
Longshore Law refers to a class of cases that fall under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act. This is a federal law that provides coverage for workers injured on or near navigable waters. Workers who qualify under this Act must meet both situs and status jurisdiction.
Situs jurisdiction refers to “where” the worker was injured. Put simply, there is a test to determine whether the individual was injured on or near navigable waters. Status jurisdiction, on the other hand, refers to the classification or job the worker was tasked with performing when the injury occurred. This also requires a test to determine whether the work they were performing at the time of the injury was integral to the shipbuilding or port process.
Put simply, workers who qualify under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act normally include workers like longshoreman working on our ports, shipyard employees and shipyard contractors. So it’s no surprise that Coastal Virginia fits perfectly within the scope of this law due to its strong maritime and shipping industry. With Huntington Ingalls Industries, fondly called Newport News Shipbuilding, employing more than 25,000 employees; and Virginia’s ports welcoming and servicing cargo ships from around the world, our region is one of the few in the country that boasts both a strong shipbuilding and maritime port industry.
The need for professionals and the Coastal Virginia community to understand and engage in this field is vast. Physicians, physical therapists, nurse and vocational case managers, insurance and legal professionals all play critical roles in ensuring that our community is able to service these cases. For this reason, understanding the basics of the law is the first step to ensure that workers or professionals are matched with the appropriate qualified professional. As a professional who has practiced solely in this field my entire twenty plus year career, I am able to entertain any questions, concerns or referrals.
Morring Law, PLLC
Offices in Norfolk & Newport News
1-855-MOR-COMP
757-223-1107
morringlaw.com
About Charlene
Attorney Morring has more than 20 years of experience in this area. Her entire legal career has focused primarily on longshore and state workers’ compensation benefits. Her knowledge and experience in this area is vast, allowing her to successfully represent thousands of injured longshore workers across Coastal Virginia.
