Towing Expert Witnesses

Towing expert witnesses and consultants listed here may be able to form expert opinions, draft expert witness reports, provide expert witness testimony at deposition and/or trial as or serve as consulting (non-testifying) experts on towing. The towing expert witness listings on this page are typically from fields/areas of expertise such as: Accident Reconstruction, Fire, Maritime, Mechanical Engineering, and Products Liability.

Captain John G. Jacobsen

Miami, Florida
Maritime, Accident Reconstruction - Admiralty Law, Marine & Maritime Incident Analysis & Accident Reconstruction, AZIPOD Ships, Podded Ships, Commercial Vessel, Passenger, Cruise Ship, Tug, Barge, Towing, Pilot, Piloting, Navigation, Seamanship, Rules of the Road, Boating Safety, Boating Accident, Yacht, Pleasure Craft, Container Ship
After attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Captain Jacobsen served as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine for nine years. He sailed in many positions, attained his master’s license, and has been a Port of Miami harbor pilot since 1994, including serving as Chairman. He has piloted yachts, tugs & barges, and ships of all types and sizes including Azipod ships, podded ships, freighters, tankers, container ships, ferries, cruise ships, passenger vessels, naval vessels, research vessels, and tall ships. Active in boating and yachting all of his life, Captain Jacobsen is a member of a yacht club in Miami where he serves on various committees. Captain Jacobsen remains an active pilot and avid boater to this day. Harbor Pilot: actively providing State & Federal licensed pilotage services to all types of ships, including Azipod ships, cruise ships, NeoPanamax container ships, tugs & barges, yachts, and other vessels of unlimited size and tonnage in Port of Miami. Have co...

Captain John C. Timmel Starboard Ten Maritime Expert Witness Services

Tampa, Florida
Maritime, Accident Reconstruction - Admiralty, Marine & Maritime Incident Analysis & Accident Reconstruction, Commercial Vessel, Passenger, Cruise Ship, Tug, Barge, Towing, Pilot, Piloting, Navigation, Seamanship, Rules of the Road, Boating Safety, Boating Accident, Yacht, Pleasure Craft, Sailboat, Sailing, Jet Ski & PWC
Captain Timmel began his professional career after attending New York Maritime College serving as an officer in the US Merchant Marines for seven years. He sailed in many different positions, attained his Master’s license, and has been a Tampa Bay harbor pilot since 1989, including serving as President. He has made over 6,500 transits piloting yachts, tugs & barges, and ships of all types and sizes including freighters, tankers, container ships, ferries, cruise and passenger vessels, naval vessels, research vessels, and tall ships. Captain Timmel has taught as an Adjunct Professor at New York Maritime College teaching shiphandling, piloting, watchstanding practices, and seamanship to cadets aboard their training ship, the T/S EMPIRE STATE VI, during Summer Sea Terms. Active in boating and yachting all of his life, Captain Timmel served as Youth Sailing Director, Fleet Captain, Governor, and Commodore of the Tampa Yacht Club and is serving as a Director, Gulf Coast Fleet Captain &...

CAPT Sean P. Tortora, MS, USMS Long Island Maritime, LLC

Long Island, New York
Maritime, Fire - Maritime / Marine Casualties, Admiralty, Maritime / Marine Collisions, Allisions, and/or Groundings, Marine fire / Marine fires / Marine Firefighting, Towing, Navigation Law, Underway Replenishment , Maritime Accident Investigations / Analysis / Consultation, Cargo Claims, Seaman Claims
CAPT Sean P. Tortora, M.S., U.S.M.S., is a Master Mariner with twenty-five years at sea. He is also an unlimited Master of towing vessels and Master and Commander of U.S Naval underway replenishment vessels. During his career at sea, CAPT Tortora had command of many different classes of vessels, including tankers, dry cargo, break bulk, ammunition, ocean towing, and salvage, special mission, as well as underway replenishment vessels. CAPT Tortora is a native of Long Island, New York. He is a graduate of Chaminade High School and holds a BS in Marine Transportation and MS, with honors, in International Transportation Management, both from the State University of New York Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler. He has served in the first Gulf War 1991-1992, Operation Noble Eagle—the response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, and Operation Iraqi Freedom—the second Gulf War from 2002-2010. CAPT Tortora’s decorations include U.S. Navy MSC-Command-at-Sea Designato...

Scott A Moorman, MEng, MBA

Concord Twp, Ohio
Mechanical Engineering, Products Liability - Snowplow, snow, ice, snow and ice removal, salt spreader, towing, pintle hook, ball mount, lunette, trailer, truck, snow plow, gritter, cartridge valve, hydraulics, aftermarket truck accessories
28 years of experience in mechanical engineering working as a product engineer, developer, trainer, and communicator in the automotive, hydraulic and truck accessory industries. 17 years designing, developing, launching, and managing the SnowDogg snowplow product line while overseeing and developing a wide range of towing, lighting, and snow and ice removal truck accessories. Experience includes depositions and trial testimony in multiple liability, patent and business issues. Responsible for pursuit of corporate patents, and current holder of 4 active patents with 3 pending. Areas of expertise include: • Snowplows and related mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems • Salt Spreaders and related mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems • Truck Towing Products – Pintle Hooks, Couplers, Hitch Balls and relevant SAE standards • Truck Accessory Design and Mounting • Dealer Training and Technical Communication • Product Development, Engineering and Lifecycle Management