Fisher Maritime's team of consultants has amassed an array of experience providing expert witness services to the maritime industry. We have dealt with vessels and conveyances of all size, shape and manner. Powered and unpowered; steel, wood, and fiberglass; new construction, conversion and repair; coastal and oceangoing; recreational and commercial, we have dealt with an astounding variety of projects.
We have been engaged in these matters for over 25 years. Our book, Maritime Product Liability, edited by Dr. Kenneth Fisher, was first published in 1979.
Fisher Maritime has analyzed numerous casualties and personal injury claims to determine the causes and the party responsible. These have pertained to recreational craft, service vessel, major cargo vessels, fishing vessels. Our analyses have included alleged product failures, fires, collisions, explosions, capsizings, sinkings, lack of safety features on recreational boats, improper construction, improper maintenance, defective manuals, overboard losses of containers, water damage to bulk cargoes, tanker loading/ discharging/ pollution matters.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Ph.D., engineering economics, University of Sydney (Australia), 1973; M.S.Eng., naval architecture and marine engineering, University of Michigan, 1966; B.S, naval architecture and marine engineering, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, 1964.
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: Life Member, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (USA); Fellow, Royal Institution of Naval Architects (UK); Member, American Society of Naval Engineers.
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: I have given over 40 one-day seminars on Liability Avoidance in the marine industry, and over 200 three-day seminars on the management of ship construction and repair.
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: 200
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Naval architecture, marine engineering, ship building, ship repair, ship operations, shipyard operations, marine operational practices, boating casualties.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 60
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 40
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: 60
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: About once every 6 weeks on average in 2004.
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: 30
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: 30
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: 23
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Consulting, expert analytical reports, accident reconstruction, contract management, vessel design, marine operational planning.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: 225
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: 225
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: 225
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: 225
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Travel time, travel and communication expenses, including copying, faxing, etc.
