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New Orleans Chapter: Admiralty Law CLE: The M/T ATHOS I – Meeting an Uncharted Object
December 15, 2020, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. CST on Zoom.
The M/T ATHOS I departed Puerto Miranda, Venezuela, with a full cargo of Bachaquero crude oil destined for the CITGO refinery at Paulsboro, New Jersey, in the Delaware River. CITGO had a permit from the U.S. Corp of Engineers for a ship berth alongside the refinery. When the ATHOS I was in Federal Anchorage No. 9, which adjoined CITGO’s berth, it struck an uncharted/unknown/undetected object later discovered to be an anchor used by dredges to weigh down dredging pipes. The anchor ripped open the ship’s single hull and spilled heavy crude into the Delaware River, resulting in the second largest ship-related oil spill in U.S. waters, behind the Exxon Valdez. This is the story of that debacle, which lasted from 2004 to 2020, winding its way through Venezuela, Greece, Houston, Philadelphia, two trials with two different judges in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, two appeals to the Third Circuit, a writ denied and a writ granted by the U.S. Supreme Court, and oral argument in, and a decision by, the Supreme Court.
Much has been written about the legal aspects and issues surrounding this case, so presenter, Derek A. Walker, Esq. with Chaffe McCall, L.L.P., who was directly involved as counsel of record, will share the facts, evolution of the case, strategies, frustrations, experiences, anecdotes, and memories – a gumbo of “war stories” and insights.
About the Presenters
Derek A. Walker, Chaffe McCall, L.L.P.
Derek Walker is a Partner in the New Orleans office of Chaffe McCall and heads the firm’s International Practice Section. He has served as lead counsel in varied areas of arbitration and litigation, including cases involving business transactions; contractual disputes; insurance issues; personal injury and death; property damage; and products cases.
Derek works closely with corporate clients in a full range of industries including maritime, foreign/international, oil and gas, cement, trucking, domestic and foreign insurers. He has tried jury and judge cases throughout the U.S., including Puerto Rico and has successfully handled numerous arbitrations. His experience includes cases involving: attachments/seizure of assets; dock damages; fires and explosions; groundings; Lloyd’s coverage disputes; oil spills; product failures/product contamination; post-Hurricane Katrina flood and insurance litigation; and ship collisions.
Registration
Registration for this event will close on Sunday, December 14.
Registration Fees
- FBA Member – $0
- Nonmember – $30
- Government – $15
- Law Student (Nonmember) – $10
How to Register
Please contact Amanda Kaiser at akaiser@nofba.org with cancellation and/or substitution requests.
CLE
1 CLE Credit – Pre-approved for CLE credit in Louisiana.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Amanda Kaiser, Executive Director, Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter.