Coats v Penrod Drilling Corporation and Anr - US Court of Appeals (5th Circuit)(Politz CJ and 15 other judges) - 61 F 3d 1113 (5th Cir) 1995

Negligence - Liability of tortfeasors in general maritime law - Whether Court should adopt new rule of “modified joint liability” to replace established rule of joint and several liability

A worker domiciled in the United States who was injured aboard an oil rig located in territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) sued his employer, a corporation formed under the laws of the UAE and the owner and operator of the rig. After ruling on various pretrial motions the district court entered judgment against the employer and rig owner jointly and severally for $740,000. All parties appealed.