Lobstermen plan to sue Stonington officials over fire that sank their boat
Stonington — Two brothers whose lobster boat was destroyed by fire at the Town Dock last November have informed the town they intend to sue a long list of municipal employees and officials because of the damage to their business.
These include damages to business equipment and personal property, lost business opportunities and personal damages. Mystic attorney Michael Hardesty, who represents well-known local lobstermen Justin and Travis Maderia and their business Lindy Inc., served the town with the notice on Tuesday.
The 43-foot Lindy Inc. burned and sank at the Town Dock during the early morning hours of Nov. 11, 2015, and was raised a few days later. The fire, which also damaged another boat tied to the Lindy, as well as some of the dock’s pilings and decking, remains under investigation by police and the state fire marshal.
The notice charges that the damages the brothers suffered are the result of actions or failure to act by the Southern New England Fishermen and Lobstermen’s Association, which leases the dock from the town, current and former First Selectmen Rob Simmons and George Crouse, Police Chief J. Darren Stewart, Public Works Director Barbara McKrell, Town Planner Keith Brynes, borough Zoning Officer David Atkinson, former Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Ben Tamsky and Waterfront Commission Chairman Sandy Grimes. It also lists unnamed employees and agents of the town, the police, planning and public works departments, the Planning and Zoning Commission and Waterfront Commission, a list entailing hundreds of people.
The notice charges that despite repeated requests from the Maderias and other members of the fishermen’s association, the town failed to implement security measures at the dock such as gates, fencing, surveillance video and security devices and personnel.
It states the defendants created and maintained a condition which interferes with the Maderias’ and other association members’ use and enjoyment of their businesses due to the “unauthorized activities, trespassers, vandalism, harassment, threats, larceny, arson, criminal activity and any other unauthorized activities occurring on the Stonington Fishermen’s Dock.”
Hardesty said Tuesday night he is in the process of determining the replacement value of the boat, the amount of lost profits for the brothers, and the value of lost equipment. He said the Maderias are now unable to fish or lobster. He also said that in the past they have lost equipment, bait and other items at the Town Dock.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
