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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Great Lakes rule
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A quick definition of Great Lakes rule:
Great Lakes Rule: A law that says if someone sues because of something that happened on a commercial boat in the Great Lakes or the waters that connect them, they can have a trial with a jury. This is different from other admiralty cases where there is no right to a jury trial.
A more thorough explanation:
The Great Lakes rule is a provision in maritime law that allows an admiralty litigant to have a jury trial in a contract or tort action if the lawsuit arises from the operation of a commercial vessel on the Great Lakes or the navigable waters connecting them. This rule is stated in 28 USCA § 1873.
For example, if a shipping company is sued for breach of contract by a supplier who provided goods for a vessel operating on the Great Lakes, the shipping company may be entitled to a jury trial under the Great Lakes rule.
It's important to note that in admiralty claims, litigants do not have a constitutional or statutory right to a jury trial, except for cases that fall under the Great Lakes rule.