Hammers' Law
Sponsored By: Senator Deb Fischer
Introduced
Summary
Authorizes nonpecuniary damages for certain cruise ship voyages. The bill would extend the limitations framework that covers commercial aviation to qualifying cruise ship voyages and sets precise definitions for which vessels are included.
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- Passengers and families: Would be able to seek nonpecuniary damages for loss of care, comfort, and companionship after qualifying cruise ship voyages.
- Cruise lines and insurers: Vessels that carry at least 250 passengers and provide sleeping facilities for every passenger, that embark or disembark in the United States, and that are not on a coastwise voyage would be covered. This change could increase liability exposure for those ships.
- Courts and claimants: The bill inserts "cruise ship voyage" into the statute that governs limitations in certain cases, bringing the statute's existing limitation rules that apply to commercial aviation into these cruise claims where they operate.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New damage claims for cruise passengers
This bill would let passengers and survivors on some cruise trips seek money for loss of care, comfort, and companionship. It would define “cruise ship” as a passenger vessel carrying at least 250 people with sleeping rooms for each passenger. The ship must embark or disembark passengers in the United States and not be on a coastwise voyage. It would not apply to vessels run by the U.S. Government or by a State. If enacted, the bill would apply an existing statute’s limitations framework (previously used for commercial aviation) to these qualifying cruise voyages, which could increase legal claims and insurer or cruise line costs. The change would take effect upon enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Deb Fischer
NE • R
Cosponsors
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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