Boating Expert Witness Services - Boating Casualties

Fisher Maritime personnel have analyzed dozens of boating casualties involving a wide variety of recreational and small craft. The fundamental causes of nearly every conceivable type of casualty has been analyzed, including manufacturing defects, design defects, operator error, supplier error, maintenance/repair error and failure to warn, among others.

We have analyzed a number of recreational boating incidents including collisions, fires, falls, and injuries. We have also analyzed casualties involving larger vessels. Examples of specific cases in which we have have been involved include the following:

Boat and Trailer on Boat Ramp
  • Fall overboard from bow-rider boat
  • Collision between 60' yacht and 21' motorboat with three lives lost
  • Fall overboard from non-fixed seat on bass boat
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning aboard recreational boat with two lives lost
  • Fall overboard from engine-top cushions
  • Collision between 33' powerboat and windsurfer
  • Fall overboard from side of cabin cruiser
  • Body cavity injury from waterjet of PWC
  • Collision between personal watercraft and powerboat
  • Sinking of clam-dredge vessel with all hands lost
  • Personal injury from vertical accelerations at bow
  • Propeller injuries from waterski boat
  • Lower extremity injury when falling from PWC
  • Waterskier collision with anchored boat

We have analyzed dozens of boating casualties in the past years, providing technical advice and expert witness services. Usually those matters are settled or resolved before going to trial. However, the following is a partial listing of cases in which Fisher Maritime personnel have been deposed or have testified in trial:

  • Christie Melvin v. Mastercraft Boat Co., et al. Circuit Court of Talladega County, Alabama.
  • Brian Trudo v. Regal Marine and Mecquiar's Products. Chittenden County, Vermont.
  • David and Rein Henderson v. Skier's Choice, et al. Harris County, Texas District Court.
  • Tertia Robbins-Carrigan v. Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, et al. Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth.
  • Harry Appel v. Ted and Son's Forked River Marina. Superior Court, Camden County, New Jersey.
  • Daniel LaPlante v. Wellcraft Marine Corporation, et al. Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles, California.
  • State of New Jersey v. Barry M. Flowers. Superior Court of New Jersey
 Tall Ship Aground
  • Valinda Brown v. Genmar Industries, Wellcraft Marine, et al. California Superior Court (Los Angeles County).
  • Berardi v. Kelly and Larsen Boat Manufacturing. New Jersey State Court Ocean County.
  • Kathleen T. Edwards v. Murray Chris Craft Sportboats and Viking Boat Company. Florida State Court, Palm Beach.
  • Rose Moon v. B. Johans -- Silverton Yacht Geraldine. New Jersey State Court.
  • M. Nourchahi v. Barber Boats, Brunswick Corp. and Bayliner Inc. Texas State Court, Dallas.
  • Gwenda Cyprian v. Sport Craft, US District Court. Eastern District of Louisiana.