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Matt Shaffer of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris has once again been recognized by Super Lawyers in the 2019 Texas Super Lawyers List. This honor is a result of his excellence in Maritime Litigation.

Matt Shaffer of SMSH Legal has been recognized once again by Best Lawyers in the 26th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© 2020.

A duck boat that was carrying tourists on Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO capsized and sank Thursday evening after it was hit with a thunderstorm during its navigation. 17 people, including children, died as a result of the accident. Seven of the 14 survivors were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. Two of them are being treated for critical injuries.

After rejecting the U.S. Attorney's $20,000 top offer to settle, Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris attorneys Jonathan S. Harris and Laura De La Cruz obtained a $2.9 million dollar judgment for Jose Acosta, an injured train locomotive engineer.

Attorney Matthew Shaffer was retained by the survivors of a fisherman who was lost at sea aboard the FV Destination. The young Arizona native was one of six crew members aboard the fishing vessel when it was reported missing on February 11, 2017. The United States Coast Guard promptly executed an extensive search and rescue mission, but the search was suspended after officials were unable to recover the Seattle-based vessel or its crew. It is presumed that the FV Destination and the fishermen on board were lost in the Bering Sea near St. George Island, Alaska. There are few clues left behind by the tragedy, and the crew's family members are left with many unanswered questions. Preliminary data points to possible adverse weather conditions, mechanical problems on the vessel, or poor loading decisions. Attorney Matthew Shaffer has launched a full legal investigation into what went wrong as part of his efforts to obtain justice for his client. "It is an honor to represent this family under the most unfortunate circumstances," says Shaffer. "The tragedy is a true shame for such a wonderful family and hardworking young man."

Attorney Matthew Shaffer obtained a $1 million dollar settlement for a family of passengers who were seriously injured when a commercial jet boat crashed into the shoreline. The Florida couple and their three minor children signed up for a recreational tour of Lake Fontana, North Carolina as part of their family vacation. During the tour, the poorly trained operator misjudged a turn and struck a rock outcropping on the shore. All five family members were thrown into open water, and the couple's 9 year old son suffered multiple fractures to his face and body. After two years of tense litigation, Attorney Matthew Shaffer negotiated a $1 million dollar settlement against the owner and operator of the jet boat tours.

Deepwater Horizon was released nationwide today in theaters, more than six years after the explosion claimed the lives of 11 crew members and left an estimated 3.19 million barrels of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico. The movie is expected to chronicle the events that led up to and during the catastrophe in what is considered the worst oil disaster in U.S. history.

Matt Shaffer recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of his client injured in a maritime accident. The client was employed as a captain by The Dutra Group and was ordered to move a barge with the M/V Elbert Lewey push boat in adverse weather conditions.

Matt Shaffer has filed a lawsuit on behalf of his client injured in a maritime accident. The client was employed by Bolivar Barge Cleaning Service, LLC and was working on the M/V Sonny Gates, a towing vessel, at the time of the incident. The client was taking a barge out of the fleet of another vessel's tow and was untying a four part headline when the Captain of the M/V Sonny Gates suddenly put the vessel in reverse without warning. This caused the line to swing around and catch the client's right leg and sever part of his ankle. Shaffer is claiming negligence on behalf of Bolivar Barge Cleaning Service and The Tug Sonny Gates, LLC for not providing a safe working environment and for failing to ensure proper communication between the Captain and the crew.

Attorney Matthew Shaffer obtained a $1.25 million dollar judgement from a federal district court in Galveston, Texas for his client, a commercial fisherman. The 54-year-old worker from Palacios, Texas was tying lines on a commercial fishing boat when he be came trapped in marsh wetlands. He injured his knees and legs trying to free himself, but his boat and Captain abandoned him in the wetlands. Attorney Matthew Shaffer filed suit on behalf of the worker against the vessel owner and employer, alleging negligence under the Jones Act and failure to provide maintenance and cure benefits. "This worker was literally abandoned by the boat and its owner," says Shaffer. "They left him injured and alone and failed to assist him in any form after he was injured. The employer has failed to pay for medical treatment or even pay for meager daily maintenance to keep a roof over our client's head and food in his belly. We are so pleased that the Court ruled in his favor. We will continue to use all our efforts to obtain justice for this deserving worker."