Maritime law is a wide and complex subject area. This CLE course will assist non-maritime lawyers grasp the legal issues so as to properly advise clients. The course will assess property damage cases, such as when a towboat hits a pier, and personal injury cases, such as when someone was standing on the pier when the tugboat hit, within the context of maritime law. The course will address underlying theories related to comparative fault, liability, personification of the vessel and in rem liability.

The course will also look at the flip side of in rem liability which applies to the ability of a boat owner to limit liability for personal injury and property ownership to the value of the related vessel. The course will also present the complexity of maritime law that results from the specific legal issues involving specialized knowledge of maritime-related topics.