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S 3755 111th Congress Senate Transportation and Public Works Accidents Aviation and airports Civil actions and liability Marine and inland water transportation Marine pollution Oil and gas Pollution liability Transportation employees Worker safety and health

Fairness in Admiralty and Maritime Law Act

Introduced: August 5, 2010 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 5, 2010
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Aug 5, 2010
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fairness in Admiralty and Maritime Law Act - Expands a shipowner's liability to claims not subject to limitation to include: (1) personal injury claims; (2) wrongful death claims; and (3) claims relating to oil drilling or exploration or the discharge of oil from a vessel or offshore facility. Excepts the owner of a fishing vessel from such limitation for claims for personal injury or wrongful death, unless the claim involves the privity or knowledge of the owner.

Allows punitive damages to be assessed without regard to the amount of compensatory damages assessed in a civil maritime action for damages arising out of a maritime tort, subject to exception.

Amends the Death on the High Seas Act to permit the personal representative of a decedent to bring a civil action in admiralty or law (limited to admiralty under current law) against the person or vessel responsible for the decedent's death when the death was caused by wrongful act, neglect, or default occurring on the high seas beyond three nautical miles from the shore of the United States.

Allows recovery in such an action for fair compensation for nonpecuniary loss (limited to pecuniary loss under current law), plus a fair compensation for the decedent's pain and suffering. Defines "nonpecuniary loss" as loss of care, comfort, and companionship.

Amends provisions concerning commercial aviation accidents to include general aviation accidents.

Amends the Jones Act to allow recovery for the loss of care, comfort, and companionship of a seaman in a claim by the seaman's representative relating to oil drilling or exploration or the discharge of oil when the seaman died as the result of such oil drilling or exploration or the discharge of oil.

What's happening now August 5, 2010

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3755: Fairness in Admiralty and Maritime Law Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-3755/
MLA
"S. 3755: Fairness in Admiralty and Maritime Law Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-3755/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3755, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-3755/.
Markdown link
[S. 3755: Fairness in Admiralty and Maritime Law Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-3755/)
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