Environmental Disaster Law

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

On March 23, 1989, the supertanker Exxon Valdez pulled out of Valdez, Alaska, loaded with more than 56,000,000 gallons of crude oil. Captain Joseph Hazelwood, the Master of the vessel, had spent the day drinking with crew members. He had consumed at least eight vodka doubles and his blood alcohol level stood at .241 - more than six times the permissible level under Coast Guard regulations. Third mate Gregory Cousins was on duty beyond the limits specified by federal fatigue laws. Hazelwood, Cousins and the rest of the crew faced a night voyage through ice in Prince William Sound. Hazelwood's intoxication was evident from the alcohol on his breath, his slurred speech (captured on audiotape) and, most of all, his actions as the ship navigated the sound. While passing through fishing grounds, Hazelwood took the Exxon Valdez outside established shipping lanes to avoid ice. He put the vessel on automatic pilot, accelerating at Bligh Reef. Hazelwood then left the bridge in violation of Federal Pilotage Regulations. As he went below, Hazelwood gave vague instructions to the inexperienced and fatigued Cousins. **End Summary** Topics: automobile accidents]]> airplane crashes]]> traumatic brain injury]]> head injury]]> personal injury]]> catastrophic personal injuries]]> medical malpractice]]> prof]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Author Bio The Scarlett Law Group are National Trial Lawyers based in San Francisco, California with outstanding result in cases involving traumatic brain injury ,Civil Rights and environmental disasters .

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Environmental Disaster Law