To the chagrin of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the cruise line industry, the House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill that would allow the families of oil spill victims to sue for non-economic damages.
In a voice vote, the House approved the Securing Protections for the Injured from Limitations on Liability Act (pdf), which amended the decades-old Death on the High Seas Act to allow families of the deceased oil workers to recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of care, comfort and companionship.
