A Bremen fisherman has filed a civil suit against Lincoln County and the Town of Bremen for a summer 2007 boating accident causing loss of fish from his nets off Ram Island.
Dennis Zaccadelli of Bremen is filing the lawsuit for damages Lincoln County Sheriff’s Dept. officers allegedly did to his fixed-gear stop seine net that targets herring as they swim out to sea from Greenland Cover with the outgoing tide.
Zaccadelli demands a jury trial on all claims made.
According to the court document he filed, Dept. Brent Barter and Lt. Rand Maker were reportedly operating a 14-foot boat owned by the Town of Bremen while acting in the capacity of shellfish wardens for Bremen under a special contract with the county and the town for the service.
Facts the plaintiff filed say the boat collided with his nets, which were full of herring, resulting in a tear to the nets causing extensive damage and allowing the release of the fish.
In the first count, Zaccadelli charged Barter and Maker with negligence when, as employees of the Sheriff’s Dept. the boat they were using, collided with his nets causing him to suffer significant damages.
Zaccadelli filed a second count pertaining to Barter and Maker as employees of the Town of Bremen while conducting a patrol of the waters located near Ram Island as shellfish wardens.
Reportedly, because of the collision, Barter fell out of the boat, and Maker hit the windshield of the department’s boat.
Lincoln County commissioners said Tuesday the Risk Pool insurance the county has would cover the costs involved in the lawsuit, which County Administrator Jim McMahon brought before the board for discussion about reworking the wording of the contract with the town for provision of shellfish warden service from the Sheriff’s Dept.
McMahon said he consulted with the county attorney about the contract wording he recommended changing to avoid any such possible liabilities in the future. He said the same changes would hold true for the contract with Bristol for the same purposes.
