For over 30 years, David has focused his practice almost exclusively on maritime related issues. David regularly handles litigated matters that include bodily injury claims involving Jones Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, limitation of liability, seaman status, maintenance and cure, unseaworthiness, third party maritime tort, passenger claims, investigation and defense of vessel collisions and toxic releases arising from vessel and shipyard operations, and Defense Base Act. David routinely handles marine property damage litigation involving hull and cargo, docks, bridges, wharfs, loss of use and earnings, contract of carriage under COGSA (package/CFU limitation) and the Harter Act. As maritime operations can often result in the release of contaminants, David has vast experience in handling pollution related claims, including handling of clean up and pursuit of third party liability under OPA 90 and defense of all charges (civil and criminal) under the Clean Water Act. A regular part of David’s practice includes protecting client’s rights through pursing vessel arrests or seeking the release of vessels that have been wrongfully arrested. David’s experience in this area includes obtaining Warrants of Attachment that arise from towage liens, ship mortgages, tort liens, salvage liens and vessel sales.

David’s maritime practice includes preparing, analyzing, and revising maritime contracts, as well as litigating the terms of such contracts, including all types of charter agreements, master service agreements, affreightment contracts and cargo claims.

Through his vast maritime experience, David has acquired a great understanding of the terms and conditions that are unique to marine insurance policies and has represented both carriers and policy holders in claims that involve a wide range of coverages, including Hull and Machinery, Protection and Indemnity, Marine Employer Liability, Sue and Labor; Wreck Removal and General Liability.

The types of marine interests that David’s practice has handled is wide ranging and includes A frame rigs, tow boats, dry cargo barges, tank barges, pilot boats, dock barges, deep draft dry cargo ships, pipe laying barges, spud barges for marine construction, crew boats, passenger vessels, casino boats, integrated towing units (notch tug and barge), pleasure boats, yachts, subsea divers, offshore jack up drilling rigs, lift boats, offshore supply boats, pipe laying barges, cargo elevators, cargo transfer terminals, docks and other marine structures.

David is admitted to practice in Louisiana, Texas and Missouri and his extensive maritime practice has admission on a pro hac vice basis in courts and administrative tribunals in Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia.