Press Release
William Gee Issues Public Alert on a Costly Offshore Injury Trap: Treating Maritime Claims Like Workers’ Comp
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William Gee, a prominent trial lawyer in Lafayette, Louisiana, is urging offshore workers and families to avoid early mistakes that can quietly weaken a maritime injury claim.
Louisiana, US, 25th February 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, William Gee, Managing Partner of William Gee Law Firm, released a public alert aimed at offshore and maritime workers who are hurt on the job, as well as families trying to help them in the first days after an injury.
The alert focuses on a common and avoidable mistake: handling an offshore injury the way someone might handle a standard workers’ compensation claim, including giving quick recorded statements, signing early paperwork without review, or waiting too long to document what happened. Maritime claims can involve different rules, different timelines, and different ways liability is proven.
As a recent profile of Gee’s work put it, “offshore cases are not simple.” The same profile described a practice built on “specialize rather than generalize,” and on “preparation and persistence.” Those themes are part of what Gee wants the public to understand: the first steps after an offshore injury often shape everything that comes after.
Why this matters in plain numbers
These risks show up in a world where serious accidents remain common:
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In 2023, the United States recorded 40,901 motor vehicle traffic fatalities.
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In 2023, there were 5,283 fatal work injuries in the United States.
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Transportation incidents accounted for 36.8% of all occupational fatalities in 2023, or 1,942 deaths.
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In 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard counted 3,844 recreational boating accidents, including 564 deaths and 2,126 injuries.
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CDC NIOSH notes commercial fishing is among the most dangerous jobs in the U.S., with a fatality rate over 28 times higher than the U.S. average during 2000–2017.
Public alert: The trap to avoid
The trap is not just the injury. It is the early paper trail.
Offshore and maritime cases can turn on details that seem small at first: who supervised the work, what equipment was involved, whether the Jones Act applies, what training and safety steps were used, and how the first report described the incident. When those details are vague, rushed, or inconsistent, it can limit options later.
Self-check quiz: Are you at risk of this mistake?
Answer Yes or No:
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Did you give a recorded statement to anyone other than your own lawyer?
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Did you sign any document that mentions release, waiver, resignation, or “full and final” settlement?
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Did you delay medical care or skip a follow-up appointment after the initial visit?
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Did your first report of injury leave out key details about equipment, conditions, or witnesses?
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Were you told this is “just workers’ comp,” with no discussion of maritime rules or the Jones Act?
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Did you send texts or social posts about the incident that could be misunderstood out of context?
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Did you return to work before your condition was clearly documented by a medical provider?
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Did you rely on verbal promises about coverage, pay, or “taking care of it later”?
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Did you lose track of names of witnesses, vessel details, or the timeline of the shift?
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Did you assume the company’s process is designed to protect you first?
Quick scoring
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0–1 Yes: Lower risk. Keep documentation tight and stay consistent.
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2–4 Yes: Moderate risk. The claim may already be drifting off course.
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5+ Yes: High risk. Early missteps may be shaping the outcome.
What to do next: Simple decision tree
Start here:
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A) If you answered Yes to signing anything
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Stop signing new paperwork.
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Gather copies of everything you signed or were sent.
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Write a simple timeline: date, time, location, what happened, who saw it.
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Get legal guidance before any further statements or forms.
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B) If you answered Yes to a recorded statement
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Do not do a second statement “to clarify.”
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Request a copy or transcript if available.
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Write down what you remember saying while it is still fresh.
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Focus on medical documentation and facts, not explanations.
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C) If you answered Yes to delayed care or limited documentation
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Book a follow-up appointment and describe symptoms clearly.
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Keep a daily log for 14 days: pain, mobility, sleep, tasks you cannot do.
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Save all work schedules, travel records, and incident communications.
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Identify witnesses and write down how to contact them.
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D) If you answered Yes to “this is just workers’ comp”
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Treat that as a prompt to ask deeper questions about maritime options.
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Collect vessel or jobsite details: employer, contractors, vessel name if relevant.
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Preserve photos if you have them, including equipment and surroundings.
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Get counsel familiar with maritime and offshore injury law.
Gee is urging offshore workers and families to run the self-check today, then take simple steps to protect accuracy and documentation before the situation hardens into a record that is difficult to fix.
Run the self-check today and share it with a friend, coworker, or family member who works offshore.
About William Gee
William Gee is a prominent trial lawyer based in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is the Managing Partner of William Gee Law Firm and focuses on products liability, offshore and maritime injury cases, and serious car and truck collisions. He earned his J.D. from Tulane University Law School and studied economics and philosophy at Emory University. He led a legal team that obtained a $117 million jury verdict, the largest in Louisiana history for an injury case.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Jason Sheasby Highlights How Innovation Disputes Shape Daily Life in Los Angeles
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Jason Sheasby, a Los Angeles-based partner at Irell & Manella LLP, points to the local ripple effects of intellectual property and technology disputes on jobs, healthcare, and consumer costs.
California, US, 25th February 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, Jason Sheasby, a partner at Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles, is drawing attention to a broader issue that reaches far beyond courtrooms: the way technology and intellectual property disputes can affect everyday life locally, from the cost of devices to the speed of medical innovation and the stability of high-skilled jobs.
In recent years, Los Angeles and the wider region have become a major hub for tech talent and venture-backed innovation. CBRE reports the Los Angeles and Orange County region’s tech talent workforce reached 258,640 workers and includes 13,605 AI specialists. Colliers reports Los Angeles venture capital funding reached nearly $12.0 billion in 2025 across more than 720 deals, and Greater Los Angeles, including Orange County, recorded $17.7 billion.
As innovation accelerates, disputes over patents, licensing, and competition often follow. In 2024, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted 324,042 patents, up 4% from 2023, reflecting continued growth in patent activity.
Sheasby’s recent matters have involved semiconductors, telecommunications standards, and biomedical technologies. Those sectors are not abstract categories in Los Angeles. They connect to the local workforce, local universities, and the health and technology products residents use daily.
Selected lines that capture the broader issue
From a recent feature profile:
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“The verdict in the Netlist case came swiftly.”
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“His practice moves easily between patents, trade secrets, antitrust claims, regulatory compliance, and internal investigations.”
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“In a legal landscape often dominated by settlements and quiet resolutions, Sheasby’s career has been defined by verdicts.”
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“The modern economy runs on code, semiconductors, biomedical breakthroughs, and global standards.”
Local context and comparisons
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The Los Angeles and Orange County region’s tech talent workforce grew 13% from 2018 to 2023, reaching 258,640 workers.
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The region is reported as the fourth-largest North American market for AI specialists, with 13,605.
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Los Angeles venture capital funding reached nearly $12.0 billion in 2025 across 720+ deals, per Colliers.
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Greater Los Angeles venture capital funding totaled $17.7 billion in 2025, ranking third nationally behind the SF Bay Area and the NY tri-state area, per the same report.
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The USPTO granted 324,042 patents in 2024, up 4% from 2023, underscoring the scale of innovation that often drives licensing and infringement disputes.
Local action list: 10 steps to take this week
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Read the IP terms on one key tool you use at work (software, AI tool, or platform) and note what you can and cannot share.
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If you run a small business, inventory your brand assets: name, logo, product names, and key content. Keep them in one document.
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Turn on two-factor authentication for work email and cloud storage to reduce the most common forms of account compromise.
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If you build products, create a simple invention log: dates, sketches, meeting notes, and version history.
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If you hire contractors, confirm who owns what in the contract for code, designs, and written work.
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For founders, add a one-page IP checklist to onboarding: confidential info, permitted tools, and file handling rules.
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For employees, keep personal side projects separate from employer devices and accounts.
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For parents, talk to teens about copying and remixing online content and what “ownership” can mean in school and work.
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Support a local science or engineering program, even in a small way, through a community college, school foundation, or nonprofit partner.
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Pick one product you buy often and look up whether there is a local company making an alternative, then try it once.
How to find trustworthy local resources
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Start with credible institutions: local university tech transfer offices, reputable bar association referral services, and established small business development centres.
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Look for plain-language policies and clear fee structures. Avoid providers that promise guaranteed outcomes in legal disputes or rights enforcement.
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When seeking legal help, confirm the lawyer’s licensing status through the State Bar of California and ask who will actually handle your matter.
Take one local step today: write down the one innovation you are building, protecting, or relying on, then take one concrete action from the list above to safeguard it this week.
About Jason Sheasby
Jason Sheasby is a Los Angeles-based partner at Irell & Manella LLP who focuses on complex litigation involving intellectual property, including patents and technology disputes across sectors such as semiconductors, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. He is also a co-founder of TORL Biotherapeutics and serves on the board of trustees for Pomona College.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Peter Peyman Farzinpour Announces New Publishing Release With the American Composers Alliance
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Peter Peyman Farzinpour, a Los Angeles-based conductor and composer, has expanded his published catalog with the American Composers Alliance.
California, US, 25th February 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, Peter Peyman Farzinpour, a conductor, composer, and multimedia producer based in Los Angeles, announced that his music is now published and available through the American Composers Alliance (ACA). The new collection consolidates his catalog under a single publisher-facing home and reflects a growing body of work now positioned for wider access by performers, presenters, and audiences.
The ACA listing includes Farzinpour’s published works and is presented as a dedicated collection: https://composers.com/collections/farzinpour-peyman
Farzinpour’s career spans conducting, composition, arts leadership, and education. He serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of ENSEMBLE / PARALLAX and Sinfonietta Notturna, and as Executive and Artistic Director of Farzinpour Creative Music & Multimedia Ventures. His past roles include work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
“This ACA collection brings my published catalogue into one clear place for performers and presenters,” Farzinpour said. “It makes it easier for conductors, ensembles, and presenters to access the scores and bring the music into rehearsal rooms and onto stages. The American Composers Alliance is also a deeply supportive publishing organization that genuinely cares about the composers it represents. They actively champion our work, promote it to performers and institutions, and help ensure that our music reaches a broader and more engaged audience.”
Farzinpour is also known for integrating contemporary music and multimedia performance. Through ENSEMBLE / PARALLAX, he has commissioned and premiered new works alongside newly created multimedia elements designed for each performance. He has conducted in major venues across the United States, Canada, and Europe, including performances in France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czechia, and Bulgaria.
“The publishing side matters because it turns a performance history into something repeatable,” Farzinpour said. “It helps the work travel without needing me in the room every time.”
Farzinpour holds degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of California, Davis, and earned the DMA in orchestral conducting from the Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado in Milan. He has held faculty positions at Berklee College of Music and UMass Dartmouth, teaching conducting, composition, music theory, and music history.
“After years of writing, performing, and producing, this kind of catalogue access is a real step forward,” Farzinpour said.
About Peter Peyman Farzinpour
Peter Peyman Farzinpour is a Los Angeles-based conductor, composer, multimedia producer, educator, and arts entrepreneur. He leads ENSEMBLE / PARALLAX and Sinfonietta Notturna and directs Farzinpour Creative Music & Multimedia Ventures. His background includes work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, along with faculty roles at Berklee College of Music and UMass Dartmouth.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Goutam Gary Datta Calls Attention to Financial Noise and High Stakes Decisions Across Coppell and DFW
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Goutam Gary Datta, a Senior Financial Advisor and co-founder of Adson Wealth Partners in Coppell, Texas, points to disciplined planning as a local antidote to rushed money decisions.
Texas, US, 25th February 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, As North Texas continues to grow and attract new households, day to day financial decisions are getting more complex for many families. Retirement planning, tax choices, education funding, and risk management now sit alongside a constant stream of market commentary and online “strategies” that can push people toward quick moves.
Goutam Gary Datta, Senior Financial Advisor and co-founder of Adson Wealth Partners, is highlighting how this broader environment affects individuals locally, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where strong in-migration and rising household complexity can raise the cost of small mistakes.
In a recent spotlight feature describing his approach, Datta’s work was framed through patterns built over decades:
“Datta’s professional life began far from wealth management.”
“His approach centers on understanding each client’s values, goals, and priorities to create tailored, disciplined, and risk-aware strategies.”
“Strategies are tailored to individual financial pictures. Portfolios are constructed with attention to quality and risk management.”
“Discipline protects people from themselves.”
“Reinvention, in Datta’s case, has not meant abandoning the past. It has meant layering it carefully into the present.”
Local context: a fast-moving region with high-consequence choices
Several regional indicators show why careful planning matters in and around Coppell:
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Coppell’s median household income is about $146,235 (2020 to 2024, inflation-adjusted), with about 5.4% of residents in poverty, underscoring both opportunity and the need for thoughtful risk planning across different household situations.
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DFW added roughly 180,000 residents from July 2023 to July 2024, with population growth around 2.2% in that period, increasing the number of households navigating new jobs, new benefits, and new tax decisions.
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Fort Worth crossed the 1 million population mark between 2023 and 2024, reflecting continued regional scale and complexity in local financial ecosystems.
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Older adults are growing as a share of the U.S. population, increasing the number of families balancing retirement timing, healthcare costs, and legacy planning.
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Texas is among states with no state income tax, a factor that can shape retirement and relocation decisions, even as households still weigh other costs.
Local action list: 10 steps you can take this week
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Write down your next 12 months of “must-pay” expenses and compare it to your take-home pay.
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Check your emergency fund and pick a simple target you can reach in 30 to 60 days.
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Log into your 401(k) or IRA and confirm your contributions are still on.
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Review your investment mix and make sure it matches your real timeline, not the news cycle.
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Confirm your beneficiaries on retirement accounts and life insurance.
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List your major goals (retirement, college, debt payoff, home) and rank them in order.
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Schedule one tax check-in with a CPA or tax pro before you make a big move.
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If you own a business, review your retirement plan options (401(k), SEP, SIMPLE) and what you actually contribute.
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Collect your key documents (IDs, policies, account statements) into one folder, digital or physical.
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Choose one decision to slow down this week, and create a 48-hour rule before acting.
How to find trustworthy local resources
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Verify licenses and registrations before working with anyone: use FINRA BrokerCheck for broker-dealers and registered reps, and the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database for investment advisers and firms.
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Ask for clear scope and fees in writing, including what is included, what is not, and how conflicts are handled.
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Look for coordination, not isolation: advisors who can work with your CPA, attorney, and estate planner can help reduce gaps between tax, legal, and investment choices.
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Use regionally grounded education: the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas publishes local and regional economic indicators that can help residents understand the environment around jobs, growth, and trends.
Take one local step today. Open one account, check one beneficiary, or book one professional check-in. In a fast-growing region like DFW, steady decisions made early can prevent expensive stress later.
About Goutam Gary Datta
Goutam Gary Datta is a Senior Financial Advisor based in Coppell, Texas, and a co-founder of Adson Wealth Partners, a Wells Fargo Financial Network company. He began his career in chemical engineering after moving from Kolkata, India to New Jersey for graduate study, later earned a U.S. patent, ran a business for decades, and transitioned into wealth management in 2012. He is also a published poet and playwright, an avid traveler, and a home chef.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. All investing involves risk. Readers should consult with qualified financial, tax, and legal professionals before making any financial decisions.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
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