Seafarers Claim Mismanagement of Compensation Funds

The legal battle between a celebrity US lawyer and music mogul Jay-Z has escalated over compensation claims made by two injured seafarers. The seafarers allege that their former lawyer, Tony Buzbee, exaggerated his firm’s costs in their compensation claims after they were injured on vessels in the US. They claim that Buzbee’s law firm diverted money intended for their basic living expenses, provided by their employers, into high-interest loans for their families, resulting in the seafarers receiving only a fraction of their court-ordered settlements after the firm took its share.

One of the seafarers, shipmaster Adam Guidry, was told by Buzbee’s firm that his case was worth $1 million but was later advised to settle for $325,000. Despite being financially destitute and struggling with addiction, Guidry accepted the settlement and only received $5,000 after all costs were deducted. Another seafarer, Matthew Thompson, claimed that the law firm took 60% of his payout after he suffered head, neck, and back injuries in an accident. Lawyers for the seafarers allege that the Buzbee law firm took advantage of their financial difficulties and addiction problems.

The seafarers’ legal claims do not directly implicate Jay-Z or Combs, but they accuse Buzbee of using his celebrity status to attract vulnerable clients to his firm. The claims also state that the firm gained notoriety by making scandalous accusations against prominent individuals. Despite the dismissal of a lawsuit against Combs and Jay-Z over an alleged incident in 2000, Jay-Z has taken legal action against his accuser for defamation and against Buzbee for malicious prosecution. Buzbee, who continues to be involved in other cases against Combs, remains adamant in his defense against the accusations.

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