Maritime Expert Witness Services

Every maritime case comes down to a few questions. What should a prudent mariner have done? What did the industry expect at the time? And what happened on that deck or that bridge? Captain Stoller answers those questions for plaintiff and defense counsel in cases involving ocean-going ships, towing vessels, passenger vessels, and recreational craft.

Bluewater

Brownwater

Both

Towing and Barge Deckhand injuries, tow handling, lock operations, Subchapter M Deckhand injuries handling lines, wires, ratchets, and rigging · Tow makeup, facing up, and breaking tow · Lock and dam transits and line handling on lock walls View case type Tanker and Bluewater Groundings, cargo operations, crew injury on ocean-going ships Groundings, collisions, and heavy weather damage · Cargo and ballast operations on tank vessels · Bridge team practice, passage planning, and the master and pilot exchange View case type Harbor Pilotage Master and pilot duties, shiphandling, docking and bar crossings The master and pilot information exchange · Division of responsibility between master and pilot · Docking and undocking with tug assist View case type Collisions and Allisions Rules of the road, lookout, safe speed, bridge and pier strikes Lookout, safe speed, and risk of collision · Meeting, crossing, and overtaking situations · Narrow channel practice under Rule 9 View case type Jones Act and Unseaworthiness Training, supervision, manning, and safe work practices aboard Training and familiarization for the task that caused the injury · Supervision of unlicensed crew, and the chief mate's role in assigning work · Manning levels, work and rest hours, and fatigue View case type ISM Code and Safety Systems What a safety management system requires and where it broke down Whether the SMS met the objectives of 33 CFR Part 96 and SOLAS Chapter IX · Risk assessment and job hazard procedures · The designated person ashore and the company's response to reports View case type Passenger Vessels and Ferries Operations, crew practices, drills, and passenger safety duties Lookout, speed, and bridge practice on ferries and excursion boats · Crew training, drills, and emergency procedures · Passenger medical emergencies and evacuation planning View case type Boating and Jet Ski Operator duties, rentals, navigation rules on lakes and coasts Rules of the road between recreational craft · Lookout and safe speed on crowded lakes · Jet ski and personal watercraft operation View case type

Roles

Consulting expert: An early, confidential review to tell you whether the vessel-side facts support the case before you commit to a theory.
Testifying expert: A written report under Rule 26, deposition, and trial testimony.
Rebuttal expert: Analysis of the opposing expert's methods, assumptions, and sources.
Case review: A one-time look at logs, procedures, and statements, with a call to walk through what he found.

What he typically reviews

Deck, bridge, and engine logs, and the vessel's safety management system and procedures
Training records, crew lists, licenses, and manning documents
Coast Guard reports, CG-2692 filings, and NTSB findings
AIS tracks, ECDIS and radar data, and voyage data recorder output
Photos, video, deposition transcripts, and witness statements
Company policy manuals and industry standards that applied at the time