Daniel G. McDermott

Since 1979, Dan McDermott has handled all types of civil litigation including maritime personal injury cases and complex insurance litigation. In addition to his litigation skills, Dan has been very active in the maritime and marine insurance field. Dan has been a director of the Marine & Insurance Claims Association for 30 years and has been its only president since it was incorporated in 1991. He has also been active in the Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA), having served on the Board of Directors and written two amicus curiae briefs to the United States Supreme Court on the organization's behalf.

Dan has concentrated his practice primarily in defense of marine construction projects around the New York City Metropolitan area. He frequently represents general contractors, vessel owners, municipalities and their agencies in suits brought by longshore and harbor workers. Dan is often asked by clients and industry organizations to lecture on the interplay between federal maritime law and New York labor law.

Dan has been recognized in Chambers USA from 2005 - present as a leading lawyer in shipping litigation. As reported to Chambers by peers and clients, they note Dan has extensive litigation experience covering personal injury, insurance coverage, and cargo litigation and attracts praise for his 'astute mind and practical, straight-shooting approach.' Clients add 'talented and knowledgeable....always 100% committed to the case.'

In 2014, Dan was selected as a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an honorary society of trial lawyers. He has also been recognized as a New York Metro Super Lawyer for the past ten years, and he has been named to Best Lawyers in America from 2009 to present.

Honors & awards

AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell

Attorneys Listed by Best Lawyers in America
- Admiralty & Maritime Law
2009-Present

Chambers USA: Americas Leading Lawyers for Business - Transportation / Admiralty
2007-Present

New York Metro Super Lawyer
2008-2019

Litigation Counsel of America Fellows

Year joined

2009

Results

Courts Agree: No Violations of New York Labor Law

New York Construction and Labor Law
December 1, 2017

Marshall Dennehey successfully obtained a decision from the New York Appellate Division, First Department that affirmed the grant of summary judgment in favor of our clients, the City of New York and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. A marine construction worker (dock builder) sustained serious injuries to his cervical spine as a result of being handed down heavy buckets of epoxy from a fellow worker on a barge hundreds of times over a period of several weeks.

Summary Judgment Under New York State Labor Law

Maritime Litigation
December 6, 2016

Obtained summary judgment in a maritime case, dismissing the plaintiff’s complaint and the defendants’ cross-claims against The City of New York and the New York City Economic Development Corp. (NYCEDC). The suit was for personal injuries sustained to a dock builder. The City is the owner of the East River Ferry Landing’s Project at a pier on East 34th Street in Manhattan. The NYCEDC acted as The City’s project manager. Suit was brought under the New York State Labor Law Sections 240, 241(6) and 200, as well as common law negligence.

Successfully Defended the GC for the Tappan Zee Bridge Rehabilitation Project

Maritime Litigation
August 25, 2016

Successfully defended the general contractor on a project to rehabilitate the Tappan Zee Bridge after a six-day bench trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Our client chartered a barge as a floating work platform and entered into a subcontract agreement with a tug operator, whose tug was used to ferry electricians to the work site. Our client’s employee, a barge deckhand, fell into the river after an impact between a tug and the barge.

Thought Leadership

Marshall Dennehey’s New York Maritime Litigation Practice Group Ranked in Chambers USA 2019 - McDermott and Radzik Cited as “Notable Practitioners”

Maritime Litigation
April 30, 2019
The Maritime Litigation Practice Group in the New York City office of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin has once again been recognized among the top national maritime practices in the 2019 edition of Chambers USA: America's Lea

Marshall Denneheys NY Maritime Litigation Practice Group Cited as a Top National Practice in 2018 Chambers USA

Maritime Litigation
May 3, 2018
The Maritime Litigation Practice Group in the New York City office of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, has once again been recognized among the top national maritime practices in the 2018 edition of Chambers USA: America's Le

Marshall Dennehey Announces 2017 New York Metro Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

September 21, 2017
Five attorneys from the Manhattan office of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin and one from the firm's Mount Laurel, New Jersey office, have been selected to the 2017 edition of New York Metro Super Lawyers magazine.

Marshall Denneheys NY Maritime Litigation Practice Group Cited as a Top National Practice in Chambers USA

Maritime Litigation
May 26, 2017
The Maritime Litigation Practice Group in the New York City office of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, has been recognized among the top national maritime practices in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawye

Marshall Dennehey Announces 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

September 22, 2016
Six attorneys from the Manhattan office of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin have been selected to the 2016 edition of New York Metro Super Lawyers magazine.

•Load More

The Witch Is Dead... For the Most Part. Punitive Damages and Maritime Claims

New York
Maritime Litigation
September 1, 2019
By Jay A. Hamad, Esq. & Daniel G. McDermott, Esq.*Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 25, No. 3, September 2019. Defense Digest is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers.

Op-Ed: Hanks’ Latest Film Is One Firm’s History

New York
October 19, 2015

Does the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act Preempt New York State Labor Law in Maritime Construction Accident Case

New York
Maritime Litigation
February 12, 2015

On the Pulse...Our Maritime Litigation Practice Group

New York
Maritime Litigation
December 1, 2011
What is maritime law? The terms maritime and admiralty are frequently used interchangeably. Defense Digest, Vol. 17, No. 4, December 2011

Federal Maritime Law Preempts State Law Remedies For Incident Occurring On A Vessel On Navigable Water

New York
Maritime Litigation
September 1, 2010
New York - Maritime Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 16, No. 3, September 2010

•Load More

Classes/Seminars Taught

Schoenbaum Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation Act - Chapter 5, Marshall Dennehey Client Presentation, March, 2018

Effectively Managing Maritime Litigation Issues, Marshall Dennehey Client Presentation, February, 2018

Battle Between State and Federal Law in Admiralty & Maritime Cases - And Impact on Marine Insurance, Marshall Dennehey Client Presentation, February, 2018

Maritime Construction Accidents: To Longshore or To Labor Law - THAT is the Question, Marshall Dennehey Client Seminar, New York, NY, February, 2018

New Rules and Regulations With a Marine Insurance Impact, Marine Insurance Day, Baruch College, New York City, NY, October, 2016

Successfully Navigating U.S. Admiralty Law - Bad Faith Claims and Punitive Damages Under U.S. Maritime Law, Client Seminar, London, England, September 2015

Incoterms, Zurich Insurance Marine Division, April 2015

Impact of Long Shore and New York Labor Law, the Jones Act and McBride Decision on Punitive Damages Under Maritime Law, Navigators Insurance Marine Department, April 2015

Uniformity of Maritime Law in a Global Context, Maritime Law Association (MLA) and Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Maritimo, October 2013

Pitfalls and Obstacles to Avoid in Multimodal Movements. Does COGSA or the Carmack Amendment Apply?, Traveler Marine Subrogation Department, July 2011

Does the Longshore Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act Preempt New York State Labor Law in Marine Construction Accidents?, Marine Claims and Recovery Forum, March 2011

Strategic Planning Conference, American Institute of Marine Underwriters (AIMU), June 2010

AIMU/MICA, Global Networking Conference, Keynote Speaker and Panelist, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 2009

Punitive Damages in Maritime Law, Maritime Law Association of the United States, 2008

Uniformity of Maritime Law, New York City; Uniformity of Maritime Law, Maritime Law Association of the United States, Ft. Meyers, Florida, 2007

Rule B Attachments - Electronic Funds Transfer, Marine Claims Managers, New York City, 2006

Vessel & Seaman Status, Maritime Law Association of the United States, New York City