H.R. 2922: Hammers' Law

This bill, titled "Hammers' Law," aims to amend existing U.S. law regarding cruise ship voyages. Specifically, it seeks to allow for the recovery of nonpecuniary damages for individuals involved in actions resulting from cruise ship voyages on the high seas. Here is a breakdown of the main components of the bill:

Authorization for Nonpecuniary Damages

The bill allows individuals to pursue claims for nonpecuniary damages in cases related to incidents that occur during cruise ship voyages. Nonpecuniary damages refer to compensation for intangible losses such as:

• Loss of care
• Loss of comfort
• Loss of companionship

Amendments to Existing Law

The bill modifies section 30307 of title 46 of the United States Code, which previously addressed limitations relevant to commercial aviation accidents. The amendments include:

• The renaming of the section to "Limitations in certain cases" to broaden its scope beyond aviation.
• Including provisions specifically for cruise ship voyages, thereby enabling claims for nonpecuniary damages similar to those available for commercial aviation incidents.

Definition of Cruise Ships

In the context of this bill, a cruise ship is defined as a passenger vessel that:

• Can carry at least 250 passengers.
• Has onboard sleeping facilities for each passenger.
• Embarks or disembarks passengers in the United States.
• Is not engaged in a coastwise voyage (meaning it does not operate between ports in the same country without going to a foreign port).

Clerical Changes

Additionally, the bill specifies clerical amendments related to the table of sections in the code to reflect these changes, ensuring the updates are accurately incorporated in legal documentation.

Impact Overview

The introduction of this bill aims to establish a clearer legal framework for individuals seeking damages for emotional and intangible losses related to cruise ship voyages, aligning them with existing guidelines for aviation incidents.

Relevant Companies

• NCLH - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.: This cruise line may face increased liability due to potential lawsuits involving nonpecuniary damages from passengers.
• RCL - Royal Caribbean Group: Similar to Norwegian, this company could be impacted by changes to liability standards pertaining to passenger claims.
• CCL - Carnival Corporation: As a major player in the cruise industry, Carnival may experience legal ramifications related to nonpecuniary claims filed by passengers.