Litigating the Titanic - The Expert’s Perspective

In August 1998, the ABA Section of Litigation conducted its annual “Trial of the Century” program at the annual meeting.  The case “Abbott v Harland & Wolff” centered on allegations of design defects on the part of the designer and builder of the RMS Titanic. Using state-of-the-art demonstrative evidence techniques and presenting findings regarding mechanical and metallurgical issues, ship operations and maritime procedures, this program focuses on analyzing the issues surrounding a products liability litigation involving the designer that may have taken place in 1912 if such a lawsuit had been filed at that time.  Three-dimensional animations, actual photos and drawings of the ship will be used to illustrate potential design and operational issues that might contribute to the litigation.

1. Introduction
2. Titanic - a timeline to disaster
3. Why and how the ship was designed
4. White Star Lines role in the design
5. Construction issues related to the sinking
6. Tragedy strikes at launch
7. Comparison with the sister ship “Olympic”
8. Olympic accident plays role in Titanic disaster
9. Lifeboats - regulations and reality
10. The British coal strike and issues surrounding its impact on the sinking
11. The ship’s path across the Atlantic
12. The actions of the crew during sailing
13. The Captain’s experience of command
14. The iceberg
15. How the first officer could have alleviated the collision
16. How the failure occurred
17. What could have been done to the materials to prevent fracture
18. Implications of the disaster on the maritime industry
19. Legal strategy for White Star and Harland & Wolff
20. Conclusions