Immunity among Members of the Armed Forces

Members of the armed forces are generally immune from liability for tort actions that may be brought by other members of the armed forces. Such type of immunity is referred to as intra-military immunity or the Feres doctrine.

AVIATION LITIGATION

Aviation litigation may involve commercial or private airline accidents. When a flight crosses state lines or when an aircraft contains passengers from several different states, an accident will often result in large multi-party lawsuits and litigation in several states or in several federal district courts.

Alienation of a Spouse's Affections

Under the common law, there existed a tort for the alienation of a spouse's affections. Although most states have enacted statutes that have abolished the tort, there are approximately nine states that permit such a tort action to be brought against a third party.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act - Death Benefits

If a maritime employee's death was caused by a work related injury, the employee's widow, widower, or other eligible survivor may recover death benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. The widow, widower, or survivor may also recover funeral expenses of up to $3,000.

Liability for a Bystander's Emotional Distress

In some cases, a bystander may recover for negligent infliction of emotional distress, even though the bystander was not directly involved in an accident. For example, a wife is walking along a city street. By chance, she sees her husband's car approaching.