Tim Akpinar

Tim Akpinar represents commercial mariners, recreational boaters, cruise ship passengers, and other injury plaintiffs throughout the entire United States, including inland rivers. As a former shipboard officer, Tim understands the operation of commercial vessels and the legal rights of people who serve aboard them. Such rights can materialize under the Jones Act and other maritime laws. He has owned several vessels and handles maritime collision, maritime salvage, boating accidents, cruise ship accidents, and complex technical cases. He also handles general injury (motor vehicle) and medical malpractice cases.

Tim taught law at SUNY Maritime College and in the MBA program at Southern New Hampshire University. He worked as a bar exam prep essay grader for BarBri, where he counseled students for the N.Y.S. Bar Exam. Tim fights hard for the legal rights of clients who have sustained injury. Tim’s work is referenced in Wikipedia - Seaman’s Manslaughter Statute. Tim was asked to cover the subject of limitation of liability for the American Trial Lawyers Association, for which he wrote "Defeating Limitation of Liability in Maritime Law." This concept arises in litigation involving commercial and recreational vessels.

Tim worked as an environmental engineer for an 826 MW generating station where he was responsible for regulatory compliance, remediation, and oil spill response. He trained NYC firefighters about first responder power plant hazards that included 138,000 volt electrical equipment, high-pressure steam, bulk acid, caustic, and no. 6 heavy fuel oil storage. He worked as a shift supervisor at a 425 MW station, responsible for steam turbines, generators, boilers, diesels, and auxiliaries.

Tim covers maritime law topics for nationally published maritime and boating magazines, including WorkBoat, The Ensign (US Power Squadron), Offshore, Marine Officer, and LI Boating World. Tim can be reached at (718) 224-9824 or timakpinarlawoffice@verizon.net.

St. John's University School of Law

J.D.

1993

State University of New York - Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler

Bachelor of Engineering (1981) | Mechanical Engineering (Marine)

Defeating Limitation of Liability in Maritime Law

Trial Magazine - The Journal of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Legal Issues for Recreational Boaters, United States Power Squadron - Bayside Power Squadron

Tim spoke about admiralty jurisdiction over pleasure boats, boating accident legal issues, limitation of liability, salvage law, marine liens, and other legal issues related to recreational boating.

Maritime Law Issues for Commercial Mariners, Kingsborough Community College - Maritime Technology Program

Tim spoke about the legal responsibilities of officers and ship's crews, criminal liability, the Jones Act, limitation of liability, salvage law, recent developments in Coast Guard regulations with marine casualty reporting and alcohol testing, marine pollution, and other maritime law topics.

Recent Developments in Maritime Law, St. John's University School of Law

Admiralty Law Society

Tim spoke about salvage law, the law of finds, the Jones Act and legal issues affecting the rights of commercial fishermen.

U.S. Military Sealift Command Shipboard Firefighting School

USMSC

ALARA Training - As Low As Reseasonable Achievable - Radiation Reducing Considerations in Nuclear Power Plant Design

Reliability Engineering Training

Third Assistant Engineer - Steam & Motor Vessels - Unlimited Horsepower

USCG

Lifeboatman

USCG

Maritime Law Association of the United States

Member

Current

New York State Bar # 2621100

Member

1994 - Current

Gulf Coast Mariners

Member

2013

Activities: An Advocacy group for commercial mariners working on the nation's inland and coastal waterways

Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

Member

2009

New Jersey

Since 1994

New York

Since 1994

• Free Consultation
• Contingent Fees

• Maritime Law
• Personal Injury
• Medical Malpractice
• Products Liability
• Arbitration & Mediation
• Appeals & Appellate
• Environmental Law
• Construction Law
• Insurance Claims