Opinion ID: 3044256
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Escobar’s Employment Contract

Text: On April 27, 2011, Escobar executed an employment contract with Celebration that required arbitration of all claims “arising out of or in connection with” Escobar’s employment. The contract provided that any arbitration would be heard by a single arbitrator. 2 Case: 14-11793 Date Filed: 06/25/2015 Page: 3 of 26 Escobar’s contract also provided that the “agreement is to be governed by the laws of the vessel’s flag state, currently the Bahamas.” The contract stated that “[a]lthough [Celebration] shall bear the initial cost of the arbitration, each [party] shall be responsible for one half of the cost of arbitration.” 1 In August 2011, Escobar was injured while working onboard the Bahamas Celebration. He filed suit in Florida state court against Celebration, asserting Jones Act2 claims for negligence, unseaworthiness, failure to provide maintenance and cure, and failure to treat.