Our Case Results

Over $1 Billion RECOVERED For Maritime Accident Victims

In March 2008, our client was employed as a deckhand in a shipyard. He suffered a head injury resulting in severe brain damage.

Client Received Total: $13,148,914 for a special needs trust, annuity purchase, trust for his minor child, and cash to his family

Our client was injured in the offshore explosion.

Client Received Total: $3,038,266.01

Our client was injured in the offshore explosion.

Client Received Total: $2,930,584.34

Our client was injured in the offshore explosion.

Client Received Total: $2,586,656.93

Client Received Total: $3,000,000 settlement

While on stern of tug attempting to hook up a barge, the “L” line became tight, broke, hit our client, cut his leg off and broke his other leg. The Captain had positioned the boat too far down the side of the barge.

Client Received Total: $1,484,862.20

Our client was severely injured when a boat pulley broke and the cable hit him, knocking him into the water.

Client Received Total: $1,495,577.13

The 4-year-old daughter of a crane operator who was tragically killed in a December 2014 dredging accident will be taken care of for the rest of her life as a result of attorney Matthew Shaffer’s negotiation of a $2.5 million settlement in a mere 60 days. The single father was working aboard a crane barge in Delaware when the barge capsized and 3 crew members were thrown into the Christina River.

Barge capsized and client was trapped in the operators house, his body was recovered Wednesday Dec. 3. 

Client Received Total: $1,271,701.00

While working as an A/B seaman aboard a vessel being positioned for dockside mooring, our client was ordered by the captain to take the mooring lines to power. Before the lines could be secured, the captain ordered the vessel’s tug to be let go. A line snapped, causing our client moderate to severe traumatic brain injury; post-traumatic cognitive deficits; vertigo; rotator cuff injury; tibia fracture; chronic knee, leg ankle, foot, shoulder and thumb pain; and chronic headaches.

Client Received Total: $1,277,215.64 plus $84,226 for future medical

This is believed to be one of the largest settlements paid by the United States of America to a Jones Act seaman.

Our client suffered from a brain injury and multiple fractures to his leg, ribs and skull while working on board a ship.

Client Received Total: $1,389,193.04

Our client suffered injuries sustained inhaling hydrogen sulfide on the job.

Client Received Total: $1,115,276.00

In January 2011, SMSH Attorney Arthur Schechter won a $1,922,324.36 verdict for a maritime worker suffered a broken leg, back injuries and lost two fingers when a crane lift failed because of faulty slings. Read more.

Total Judgment: $1,922,324.36 (Plaintiff settled with his employer for a confidential amount prior to trial) Case is currently on appeal.

Client Received Total: $1,142,073.47

Barge captain working for Moran Towing. Fell 10-12 feet off of deck house on barge while changing light bulb. 

Client Received Total: $1,000,000.00

On April 20, 2007, while working as blasters on an offshore rig, our two clients injured their backs when staging collapsed due to breakage of frayed line. They also sustained severe lacerations due to a defective water blasting gun supplied by Defendants.

Client Received Total: $933,097.85

Our client fell on a boat and injured his back and fractured his ribs.  Issues or injuries: crushed ribs on edge of back bone, nerve damage.

Client Received Total: $824,724.89

Our client suffered injuries to his lungs due to chemical exposure while working as a wiper on a vessel.

Client Received Total: $593,772.00

In a bench trial held in a New Orleans federal court, Attorney Matthew D. Shaffer obtained a $1.13M award for his client, a 48 year old father and husband from Fluker, Louisiana. The victory came after months of litigation stemming from a piece of equipment falling on Rodney Watson. His employer, Weeks Marine, Inc., refused to offer any money to settle the claim before trial.

Our client was a cook aboard a dive boat that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in March of 2008. He suffered hearing loss in both ears and PTSD.

Client Received Total: $638,543.69