| The Federal Employers' Liability Act |
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| The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) is an act that deals with a railroad carrier's liability to its employees for industrial accidents. If the carrier is engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, the carrier will be liable for its employees' injuries or death. However, the carrier is only liable for injuries or death that result from the negligence of the carrier's officers, agents, or employees or from a defect in the carrier's cars, engines, tracks, or machinery.
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| The Jones Act -- Unearned Wages |
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| Under the Jones Act and general maritime law, a seaman who is injured in the course and scope of his employment may recover "unearned wages," i.e., the wages he would have earned if he were able to continue working until the end of the voyage. Unearned wages may include overtime, bonuses, and other employment benefits.More... |
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| Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress |
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| People may suffer emotional distress that manifests itself as mental suffering, mental anguish, nervous shock, fright, horror, grief, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, chagrin, disappointment, worry, and nausea. Historically, claims for damages for emotional distress caused by a defendant's negligence were usually denied. However, almost every state now recognizes the right to recover for negligent infliction of emotional distress.More... |
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| Family Car Doctrine |
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| Under the family car doctrine (or family purpose doctrine), the owner of a car is liable for a plaintiff's personal injuries if the injuries were caused by one of the owner's family members while driving the car. The doctrine applies only to cases in which the car is owned for family purposes and the owner's family members had his or her express or implied permission to drive the car.More... |
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| Federal Volunteer Protection Act -- Exceptions |
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| The federal Volunteer Protection Act (VPA) grants immunity to a volunteer who causes harm to a person while the volunteer is performing services for a nonprofit organization or governmental entity. However, under some circumstances, a volunteer is not immune from liability for such harm.More... |
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