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Hart Marine Consulting

James (Jamie) C. Hart, C.M.M.

Specializing in Expert Witness & Marine Consultation Built On Decades of Experience

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About Jamie Hart

Is a marine industry professional with over 40 years of experience, currently focused on providing expert witness services in marina and waterfront litigation nationwide. His work primarily involves cases related to personal injury, wrongful death, and operational failures occurring within marina facilities, boatyards, and public access waterfront structures.

As an expert witness, Mr. Hart provides case analysis, evaluates standard of care, and delivers professional opinions in matters involving marina operations, facility design, maintenance practices, and safety protocols. He has been retained by both plaintiff and defense counsel and contributes to litigation through detailed reporting, deposition support, and testimony.

Mr. Hart’s expertise is grounded in decades of real world experience managing, developing, and consulting on marina operations at both municipal and private levels. He has earned recognition from respected marine leaders, including the late Robert O. Cox (former Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner and Mayor) as “One of the Most Qualified Professionals in the Industry.”

Throughout his career, he has been directly involved in the planning, development, and funding of marina and waterfront projects, securing over $11 million in public grant funding and leading initiatives involving dock systems, dredging operations, boat ramps, a mega-yacht dockage, and overall marine infrastructure with municipalities across Florida, like the City of Fort Lauderdale and City of St. Petersburg

In recent years, Jamie has expanded his professional practice to include expert witness services, providing expert analysis and testimony in complex marina-related litigation, including wrongful death and slip-and-fall cases involving marina operations and contractor performance.

Total Grants Procured
$ 0 +

He is a Certified Marina Manager (CMM) and has long-standing involvement in professional marine industry organizations. His combined experience in operations, safety standards, and facility design provides a strong foundation for evaluating liability, causation, and industry compliance in legal cases.

In 2010, Mr. Hart received an Award of Excellence from the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, recognizing his impact and leadership within the marine industry. Over the course of his career, Jamie has achieved significant operational and financial milestones for multiple public and private-sector departments, including:

City of Fort Lauderdale
Provided full operational oversight of a 190-slip mega-yacht marina, including three public boat launch facilities. Increased annual operating revenue from $450,000 to approximately $3 million over a 20-year period. Led planning and design of $1M+ in electrical service and dockage upgrades, implemented New River floating dock systems, and drafted RFPs for major marina infrastructure improvements. Secured approximately $7 million in grant funding for downtown marina redevelopment, dredging, signage, and municipal waterfront improvements.
Town of Lake Park
Oversight over all phases of operation and development. Increased annual funds by $450,00 within 2 years. Planning and design of a $500,000 rehabilitation project of an existing seawall and walkway. Responsible for marketing and expansion of ‘Sunset Celebration’ & ‘TrawlerFest’ which received National Coverage of the entire Marina. Acquired $300,000 grant funding for an existing breakwater near the entrance of the Marina.
City of St. Petersburg
Awarded an RFP for Grant writing contract administration, at federal, state, and local levels for Marina projects, recreational park expansion, FEMA, dockage renovation, dredging, shoreside power upgrades, and more.
City of Dania Beach
Secured approximately $3.6 million in grant funding from state and local agencies for redevelopment of the municipal marina. Drafted the Request for Proposal (RFP) and bid specifications for design consulting services and third-party marina management. Provided additional consulting on marina construction, boat launching facilities, regulatory code updates, and management of derelict vessels within Dania Beach waterways.
Aerial of Dania Beach
Dania Beach Marina Project - Designed & Funded through grants

Services

Expert Witness & Consulting Services Tailored for Municipal, Legal, and Waterfront Infrastructure Needs. Jamie Hart specializes in Marina Operations, Management, Grant-related work, and complex Marine Consulting matters, backed by more than 40 years of experience in the Marine Industry.

Expert Witness Services

Expert Witness For Marina & Waterfront Litigation

Supporting maritime and personal injury attorneys with expert analysis of marina operations, dock infrastructure, and waterfront safety practices.

Expert Reports, Disclosures & Testimony Support

Preparation of expert reports, disclosures, and deposition or trial support.

Early Case Evaluation & Liability Assessment

Initial review of case materials, documentation, and operational practices.

Compliance & Standards Analysis

Evaluation of marina operations for compliance with OSHA standards, FEMA requirements, and applicable maritime regulations.

Professional Expertise

Marina Operations & Senior Management

Over 40 years of experience in marina operations, facility management, maintenance programs, and inspection protocols.

Dock, Waterfront & Facility Systems

Floating dock systems, boat launching facilities, bulkhead construction methods, materials, elevations, and long-term maintenance considerations.

Safety Programs, Inspections & Industry Standards

Analysis of safety programs, inspection procedures, maintenance scheduling, and compliance with applicable industry standards and codes.

Vendor, Personnel & Operational Review

Review of vendor agreements, operational procedures, and personnel guidelines related to marina and waterfront facilities.

Representative Case Experience

Selected expert witness engagements across the United States involving marina-related injury, wrongful death, and operational liability cases.

Injury Case

Retained as expert witness for plaintiff in a marina accident involving deteriorated dock planking that failed, resulting in a fall-through and serious lower leg injury.

  • Conducted accident reconstruction analysis using photographic evidence, video documentation, and technical evaluation of floating dock systems
  • Analyzed structural condition, substructure integrity, and maintenance practices
  • Evaluated causation and compliance with marina industry standards of care
  • Prepared expert opinions and documentation for litigation and deposition

When required, collaborates with qualified engineering professionals to support complex reconstruction analysis.

Injury Case Photos

Fatal Incident Case

Case retained by national law firm to evaluate marina design and floating dock construction in a fatal incident case.

  • Reviewed depositions, construction documentation, and operational practices
  • Conducted comparative analysis of similar marina facilities
  • Evaluated design consistency, safety considerations, and industry compliance
  • Provided findings related to standard of care and liability exposure

Fatal Incident Case Photos

Trip & Fall Incident Case

Retained by defense counsel to evaluate liability involving an obstruction-related injury at a condominium marina facility.

  • Assessed site conditions and contributing factors related to the incident
  • Evaluated operational practices and safety protocols
  • Provided expert analysis regarding liability and standard of care
  • Contributed to case resolution through expert findings and reporting

Trip & Fall Incident Case Photos

Expert Network Affiliations

Retained through nationally recognized expert witness networks supporting law firms and litigation teams. Engagements include collaboration with attorneys on case evaluation, technical analysis, expert reporting, and courtroom testimony.

  • United Expert Holdings, LLC d/b/a Round Table Group(RTG) – Expert witness consulting, case analysis, deposition preparation, and testimony support.
  • ForensisGroup (FGI) – Litigation support for marina-related personal injury, wrongful death, and operational liability cases.

Testimonials

Marinas & Waterfronts

Representative environments and facilities connected to consulting and infrastructure engagements with Jamie Hart.

Contact

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Get In Contact

For all inquiries, please feel free to reach out: Emails will be responded to within 24 hours