Jones Act Adds Casino Seamen 

The Jones Act was created 86 years ago by a United States Senator by the name of Wesley L. Jones. He came up with the act trying to protect US sailors from foreign competition, and to protect them medically. It was to make sure that their medical bills would always be paid, and thus ensured their positions within the shipping industry. 

However, it has now been re-evaluated and it has been discovered that there are quite a few seamen that Senator Jones may have forgotten about. The Jones Act now covers all employees upon the floating casino barges as well, and a lot of people are not very happy about that.  IF you are hurt upon a casino barge, and you are a worker, you now have the ability to sue the casino for your injury. They are no longer subject to the Illinois no-fault worker’s compensation laws.  

The casino workers have been taking advantage of this new opportunity, and lawsuits have been aplenty. Opponents feel that the worker’s compensation system is fair to both the employer and the employee. That is makes sure that if you are injured on the job you receive fair compensation and it protects you from losing your job. They say that since the casinos are not falling under that category now, that they can be sued and thus the chances of being sued by every Tom, Dick, and Harry are boundless. The Illinois Supreme Court is reviewing the ruling, and many hope they overturn it.

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