Longshore Stevedore Operations Safety Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.1937

Education

1976, Graduate SUNY Maritime College with Honors, B/S Management/Marine Transportation, Third Mate License (Unlimited Tonnage), 1000 Ton Chief Mates License, 100 ton Captains License, Commissioned Ensign USNR (inactive)

Experience

Sailed for two years on reefer/container ships, general cargo vessel, tanker, and ocean going tug boat.  Provided deposition concerning collision of SS SANTA BARBARA and SS SANKO AMBROSIO in 1977.  Quit the SS PUERTO RICO in 1978 due to serious safety issues.  The ship exploded in 1982.

2/78-9/78 traveling Supercargo/Port Captain responsible for discharge/loading containerships, time chartered vessels, and voyage chartered vessels in Port Newark, Baltimore, and Norfolk

9/78 to 10/96 Stevedoring/Terminal Operations for Maher Terminals in Port Newark/Elizabeth, NJ, Bayonne, NJ and Baltimore MD starting as supervisor of working containerships, then also general cargo, car ships, lumber ships, steel cargo carriers, and project vessels as well.

9/81 Supervisor called on to handle cargos damaged from heavy seas, fire, flooding, and collapse and simply more difficult/dangerous vessels to handle.  Called on to salvaging heavy cargos damaged while in Maher control

9/82 Chief marine superintendent

6/83 Invented a discharge method for steel billets that quadrupled production while almost eliminating injuries

1/98 named Marine Manager of the Lumber, Steel, Auto and Forest Products Division

8/93 to 10/96 Marine Manager of Tripoli Street Container Terminal.  Accidents were always few in my operations

1/96 achieved the lowest accident frequency in the port with highest production ever.  Throughout this time was often called to provide depositions on third party lawsuits by longshoremen against vessel owners and in cases of damaged cargo
10/96 Marine Manager/Safety Director, Howland Hook Container Terminal, Staten Island Reopened the terminal with an untrained workforce consisted of ILA longshoremen on guaranteed annual income.    Accomplished this retraining as well as established the procedures needed to stevedore containerships, reefer/container ships, general cargo vessels, project cargo vessels, roll on/ roll off vessels, pure car carriers, and military cargo.

As Safety Director confronted with ILA men who did not wish to return to work and filed false or inflated injury claims.  Had to be successfully defended or the terminal would close.  Worked with carrier Signal Mutual, adjusters Frank Gates Acclaim, and law firms of Freehill, Hogan, & Mahar and Field,Womack, and Kawzinski to defend against these Longshore and Harbor Workers Act claims.  6/00 successful in these cases with some important new case law resulting.  Also as safety director established facility safety program from scratch using a combination of engineered and behavioral safety

7/01 to 6/02 created Longshore Safety Consultants as a consulting company on marine and USL&H safety.  Services provided besides facility safety consulting were consultants proficient in OSHA Regulations, Drug Treatment, Bulk Liquid Operations, and case management.  Clients included Federal Marine Terminals, Signal Mutual, and law firms as an expert witness

2/02 Longshore Safety Consultants expanded into industrial, construction, resort, and transportation consulting via a contract with Safety Resources, LLC.  Primary customer became AIG in 9/02

12/02 USL&H Loss Control consultant for AIG in stevedoring, shipyards and marine construction while keeping Longshore Safety Consultants semi-active

12/03 became involved in Middle-Market loss control when it became apparent that the same techniques used in previous positions had value in other areas

Witness Work

1977 to 6/2001 numerous depositions as directed for Prudential/ Grace Line, Maher Terminals, and Howland Hook Marine Terminal in cargo damage, vessel damage, and third party injury cases

Freehill, Hogan & Mahar-NYC, NY
10/96 to 7/01 Claim investigations, depositions, and testimony in numerous USL&H cases
8/04 Hatchboss vs. Gearbulk Line Third Party Suit

Field, Womack, & Kawzinski-NY
10/96 to 7/01 numerous Longshore Act Claims investigations, depositions, and testimony

Palmer, Biezup, & Henderson-Philadelphia, PA
2/02 Wizniewski vs. Del Monte-Third Party Vessel Lawsuit

Geraghty Law Firm-Seacacus, NJ
2/99 Electrical Contractor vs. Howland Hook Third Party
10/01Gadaletta vs. NOL Third Party Stevedore
5/05 Truck Driver vs. E-Rail Intermodal Facility

Blume, Goldfaden, Berkowitz, Donnellly, Fried, & Forte-Summit, NJ
1/04 Campbell vs. Source4Value Warehouse

Ken Elwood, ESQ.-NJ
3/03 Estate of Jamie Neves vs. Sealand/Maersk

Eustis, O’Keefe, & Gleason-New Orleans, LA
Anic vs. Empire Stevedoring Third Party Stevedore Lawsuit