A federal judge for the Middle District of Florida has ordered all claims related to El Faro sinking to be filed with that court by December 21, 2015.  Failure to comply with the strict deadline may result in a claim being defaulted or barred.

Sylvester C. Crawford, Jr., a 40 year old father from Lawrenceville, Georgia, was among the 33 crewmembers that perished aboard the 40-year-old cargo ship. The Seafarers International Union (SIU) member was working his first hitch aboard the vessel in its final voyage.  Crawford’s family recently retained the experienced maritime attorneys of Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. to represent them against Tote Maritime for their loss.

“We are honored to represent the Crawford family as they seek justice for their beloved Sylvester,” said Matthew D. Shaffer, a maritime attorney and partner of SMSH.

With the families of the crewmembers still mourning the unexpected passing of their loved ones, the legal battle over the sinking of El Faro has started.

The vessel went missing on its final voyage to Puerto Rice when it sailed into the path of Hurricane Joaquin and sunk east of the Bahamas. Tote Maritime, the owner of the ship and employer of its crew, filed a complaint to limit its liability for the losses stemming from this disaster.  Tote Maritime seeks to cap its liability at no more than approximately $15 million dollars, a value based on the ship’s tonnage.  The court order requires all claims for compensation related to the El Faro disaster to be filed by December 21, 2015.

“It is shameful that Tote Maritime has initiated litigation in a venue far from their home seeking to limit its responsibility to these families to pennies on the dollar, while at the same time seeking the full measure of reimbursement for the loss of its ship,” said Shaffer.  “Such actions are doomed for failure but will succeed in costing the survivors time and money as they look for answers in this tragedy.”

SMSH has represented individuals like the Crawford family for more than 50 years across the United States. Combined, its attorneys have more than 100 years of trial experience in holding employers and shipowners responsible for serious maritime accidents and deaths.

Family members affected by the El Faro tragedy are strongly advised to contact an attorney as soon as possible to discuss their legal rights in light of the court’s upcoming deadline to file claims.  If you or a loved one was injured in a maritime or offshore accident, call 1-800-282-2122 today to speak to an attorney at Maintenance and Cure for a free, confidential consultation. Legal assistance is available both in English and Spanish (Español).