Jury Rules for Boat Owner in Maine Fatality

A federal jury has ruled that a fishing vessel was not unseaworthy when it sank 60 miles off the Maine coast four years ago, resulting in the death of a fisherman.

According to the Bangor Daily News, the U.S. District Court jury in Portland ruled Friday that the fishing vessel Sirius was shipshape when it went down in July 2005.

Port Clyde fisherman Gary Thorbjornson was lost at sea. His widow and the two surviving crew members, including Thorbjornson’s son, filed a complaint against the family corporation that owned the boat.

A judge threw out the negligence complaint and the jury ruled that the boat was seaworthy.

Attorney Michael Savasuk, who represented the vessel owner, said the boat probably sank after striking something.