California Court of Appeal (Second Appellate District) upholds Yacht Club’s demurrer to General Maritime Law claims by a shore-based maintenance worker.

October 23rd, 2023

On September 6, 2023, in a published opinion, the California Court of Appeal (Second Appellate District) upheld a Yacht Club’s demurrer to claims by a shore-based maintenance worker under general maritime law. CWL’s Mitch Griffin and Neil Lerner successfully argued that workers excluded from receiving benefits under the Longshore & Harborworkers’ Compensation Act because they are within the employments named in U.S.C. Section 902(3)(A)-(F), are also barred from bringing a general maritime law negligence claim against their employers, even in the employers’ capacity as a vessel owner. Their sole remedy is the receipt of state workers compensation.

Ranger v. Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, No. B315302 (Cal. Ct. App. Sep. 6, 2023).