Death on the High Seas Settlement

$1,700,000 – Death on High Seas

Award Amount: $1,700,000

Location: Portland, Maine

Admiralty

Jones Act – Death On High Seas

Amount of settlement: $1.7 Million

Injuries alleged: Death

Name of case: Plaintiff v. Primorsk Shipping Corporation & A.L.T. Navigation LTD;
In the Matter of the Complaint of Atlantic Mariner, Inc. for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability

Court/case#: U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, No. 01-CV-11438-MEL;U.S. District Court, District of Maine, No. 01-CV-210

Tried before judge or jury: N/A (settlement)

Amount of settlement: $1.7 Million

Date: March 2002; September 2002

Attorney for plaintiff: David F. Anderson and Carolyn M. Latti, Latti & Anderson LLP, Boston

Attorney for defendant: Withheld

In the evening of August 4, 2001, the F/V STARBOUND departed George’s Bank bound for the port of Rockland, ME. Earlier that same day, the M/T VIRGO departed the port of Boston, MA headed for Come By Chance, Newfoundland, Canada. In the early morning hours of August 5, 2001, the M/T VIRGO and the F/V STARBOUND collided approximately 130 miles east of Cape Ann, Massachusetts.

Following the collision, the M/T VIRGO failed to assist the F/V STARBOUND and her crew even after the Coast Guard attempted to contact the M/T VIRGO to provide assistance. The F/V STARBOUND sank and three members of her crew, including the plaintiff, died.