Dr Shonting is a professor of oceanography, author,lecturer, and research scientist of 35 years [Doctorate is from MIT]. He has served as Admiralty expert consultant and witness related to:Vessel groundings,At-sea accidents,harbor mooring systems,Instrumentation,Depth finders,Env.Impact Statements,Nuclear plant cooling effects,Wave/Hurricane damage,Tides,Waste dumping disposal,Permits and Environmental Protection. He has conducted research for Woods Hole,US Navy [Newport, RI],USCG,COE,EPA,NATO [Italy] and URI. He has long experience aboard ocean reseach vessels and as a sailor/navigator on ocean races. He has specialized in wave/hurricane effects, coastal surveys,beach erosion,harbor moorings,oil spills,environmental pollution and instrumentation. Dr Shonting has authored some 120 papers/reports/chapters and is currently writing a book on Tsunamis.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: BS - CHEMISTRY UNH
MS - CHEMISTRY UNH
ScD - OCEANOGRAPHY MIT
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: American Geophysical Union
American Association of Limnology and Oceanography
American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science.
Secretary of Section: Atmospheric/Oceanic Sciences
Marine Technology Soc. New England Section
President, Vice President
Com. Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea,Monaco
Tech. Advisor Charlotte Harbor[FL] National Estuary Prog.
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Lecturer: Physical Oceanography -Ocean Engineering, Northeastern Univ, Boston, Southeastern Mass. Univ, Dartmouth, MA, and Salve Regina Univ. Newport,RI
Professor [Adjunct] Graduate School of Oceanography and Dept./ Ocean Engineering 1966-present.
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: No
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: About twenty different Admiralty cases or hearings between 1960 and 2004
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Oceanography, Environmental effects, Harbors - moorings, design, Wave effects, reconstruction of entire [NJ] boating accident scenario of physical conditions, tides, currents, assessing capability of captains judgement. assessing accuracy of bathymetric charts of Brazilian/US Hydrographic services. Assessing effects of harbor facilites on bottom environmnet, biota, and erosion conditions.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: ~ 20%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: ~ 80%
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: For all cases to my knowledge.
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Seven-eight
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: Thirty two
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: All of the above. Willing to travel, Fluent in English, Italian, Working knowledge of French, German, and some Russian.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: $120/hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $ 90/hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $150/hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: $200/hour
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: All of the above.
