The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) is pleased to announce that we’ve hired a second law fellow, Olivia Deans. Olivia received her J.D. from Vermont Law School in 2020 and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Michigan Technological University in 2016. During her time at NSGLC, Olivia will focus on fisheries management and water law. We asked Olivia a few questions to get to know her better. Welcome, Olivia!
Outbreaks of COVID-19 at food processing facilities have led employees to file suit against large companies like Tyson and Smithfield for state law claims of public nuisance and breach of duty to provide a safe workplace. Of the 3.4 million food processing employees, about 250,000 work in seafood processing, though most of those workers are employed on land-based facilities. Workers at seafood processing facilities that operate offshore on vessels, however, may be entitled to additional remedies after getting sick if they qualify as Jones Act seamen.
