Personal Injury Newsletters

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act is a federal law designed to encourage the donation of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations by limiting the legal liability of donors. The Act is named after its sponsor, Bill Emerson, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri. President Bill Clinton signed the Act into law in 1996.

Mitigation of Damages

Mitigation of damages is sometimes referred to as the doctrine of avoidable consequences. The doctrine requires a plaintiff who is injured by a defendant to take steps to minimize his damages. It applies after the defendant commits the tort but at a time when the plaintiff still has an opportunity to avoid at least part of the consequences.

The Jones Act -- Maintenance and Cure

Under the Jones Act and general maritime law, a seaman who is injured in the course and scope of his employment may recover "maintenance" and "cure" benefits from his employer, even if the employer was not negligent and the vessel was not unseaworthy. Maintenance and cure benefits are similar to workmen's compensation benefits; however, no government agency is involved in the administration of maintenance and cure benefits.

Criminal Conversation with a Spouse

Under the common law, there was a tort for criminal conversation with a spouse. Although most states have enacted statutes that abolished the tort, there are a few states in which a spouse may bring an action against a third party for the tort.

Federal Volunteer Protection Act -- Overview

The Volunteer Protection Act (VPA) is a federal law that was designed to promote volunteerism by granting civil immunity to volunteers under certain circumstances. The VPA was signed into law by President Clinton in 1997.