Maritime Litigation Support
& Expert Witness
Five Fathoms Consulting provides maritime litigation support, marine investigations, and expert witness services for attorneys, law firms, insurers, vessel owners, and other parties involved in complex maritime matters. Our work focuses on vessel operations, navigation, marine casualties, harbor operations, maritime safety, regulatory issues, and marine construction incidents.
Five Fathoms Consulting evaluates maritime incidents involving vessel collisions, groundings, personal injuries, marine casualties, navigation, harbor operations, vessel operations, salvage, marine construction incidents, and other complex maritime matters. Our analysis draws on 20 years of U.S. Coast Guard service, maritime law enforcement experience, vessel operations, navigation, harbor management, and marine consulting experience.
Our work may include review of Coast Guard and law-enforcement reports, vessel records, photographs and video, depositions, witness statements, policies and procedures, navigation information, regulatory materials, technical records, and other case evidence. Findings are developed through independent analysis of the available facts and may be presented through expert reports, consultation, depositions, or trial testimony.
Vessel collisions and allisions with docks, bridges, piers, and other structures
Vessel groundings and marine casualties
Navigation, Rules of the Road, and vessel-operation issues
Maritime personal injury and wrongful-death matters
Harbor, marina, dock, and waterfront incidents
Marine construction and project-related incidents
Salvage, towing, and vessel-assistance operations
Vessel manning, operational readiness, and onboard procedures
Maritime law-enforcement and boating-safety matters
Maritime Expert Witness
& Litigation Support Experience
Five Fathoms Consulting brings operational maritime experience to the analysis of complex legal matters, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, technical clarity, and independent professional judgment.
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Experience in Coast Guard operations, vessel navigation, maritime law enforcement, harbor management, marine project management, and waterfront operations provides a practical foundation for case analysis.
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We review the available evidence, applicable regulations, vessel operations, navigation information, technical records, and relevant maritime practices to develop clearly supported opinions.
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Complex maritime operations, navigation issues, regulations, and technical information are explained in clear language for attorneys, courts, juries, and other decision-makers.
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Opinions are based on the available evidence, applicable maritime requirements, and professional maritime experience rather than the desired outcome of a case.
Maritime Litigation Support Services
Services can be tailored to the needs and stage of a maritime matter, from initial case evaluation through discovery, expert reporting, deposition, and trial.
Initial case review and technical consultation
Marine incident and casualty investigation
Review of reports, depositions, photographs, video, vessel records, and other evidence
Regulatory and operational analysis
Expert witness reports and opinion development
Deposition preparation and testimony
Review and analysis of opposing expert opinions
Trial preparation and expert testimony
Why Attorneys Choose Five Fathoms Consulting
Practical Maritime Experience:
Case analysis is informed by extensive experience in vessel operations, navigation, maritime law enforcement, harbor management, marine safety, and maritime consulting.
Case-Specific Support:
The scope of each engagement is tailored to the facts, technical issues, and requirements of the individual matter.
Discuss a Maritime Matter
Attorneys and legal teams seeking maritime litigation support, marine incident analysis, or expert witness services can contact Five Fathoms Consulting to discuss the facts, technical issues, and scope of a potential engagement.
Selected Maritime Case Experience
● Commonwealth v. Urbelis, (SSC 2016) USCG (Federal Officer)
● F/V Princess Laura Anthony & Enzo Inc. (USDC 2011) USCG (Federal Officer)
● Sally Olsen and Mark Olsen v. Peter Mullen and Irish Venture Inc. F/V Osprey (Expert Witness)
● Matthew Holland v. Garrett Lee Saunders New York Supreme Court (ID# 20163109) (Expert Witness)
● Richard Lane, Richard Palmer, and Lea Sutherland-Doane, As Administrator of the Estate of David R. Sutherland V. United States, and Phillip Powell and the F/V Foxy Lady. (Expert Witness)
● Brian Sforza et al. v. Interstate Navigation Co. et al. (Expert Witness)
● Kelly Wilhelm v. Chicago Lakefront Cruises Inc. (Expert Witness)
● Dequian Vincent v. Dupre Brothers Construction Company Inc. (Expert Witness)
● United States of America v. Greg Abbott in his capacity as Governor of the State of Texas, and the State of Texas. (Expert Witness)
● Sean Ryan v. Schuyler Line Navigation Company LLC (Expert Witness)