For immediate release
Firm settles vessel fire case for $1.7 million
When Dave and Donna Munroe unexpectedly lost their custom built 57’ sport fishing yacht MAKAIRA to a fire at the Pirates Cove Yacht Club in Manteo, North Carolina, they were devastated. Built for them by Scarborough Boat Works, it was estimated that it would take $1.8 million to build a new vessel.
But when the owner of the adjacent vessel on which the fire had started filed suit in the Eastern District of North Carolina under the Federal Limitation of Liability Act to limit his liability to just $20,000, the Munroe’s were stunned. That’s when they turned to James L. Chapman, IV and Crenshaw, Ware & Martin for help.
Through detailed investigation, Mr. Chapman and his experts identified an additional responsible party and filed a third party claim against him. Evidence from several preeminent experts, including a marine electrical engineer, a plastics engineer and two cause and origin specialists, established fault by the third party. After the court denied the offending vessel owner’s motion for summary judgment, the case soon settled for $1.7 million. As Dave Munroe said afterwards, “Losing the MAKAIRA was more than just a boat fire to us and it will always be tough to think of the event. Money will never reverse the tragedy but at least now it’s not a double loss.”
