Hammers' Law

HR 2922, "Hammers' Law," amends federal law to expand legal limitations on certain claims from commercial aviation accidents to include cruise ship voyages. The bill defines a "cruise ship" as a passenger vessel carrying at least 250 passengers with sleeping facilities, embarking or disembarking in the U.S., and not on a coastwise voyage. It also clarifies that "nonpecuniary damages" cover losses like care, comfort, and companionship. This directly affects passengers involved in cruise ship incidents within U.S. waters by extending the scope of existing legal limitations that previously applied only to commercial aviation. The key change is adding cruise ship voyages to the list of covered transportation modes under Section 30307 of Title 46, U.S. Code.