Last Oct. 24, David A. Kelly argued three Connecticut Supreme Court cases — back to back to back — on behalf of injured shipyard workers who wanted to be able to choose between state or federal compensation remedies. He’s just won all three, but that may have inspired his opponents to try to take the controversial issue to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Constitutionally, the federal government has had regulatory power over the seas and other navigable waterways. But over the past 90 years, there has been an evolving struggle about whether injured dock and harbor workers are limited to federal maritime benefits, or whether they can apply for state benefits, which are in some cases better.
