Thomas Fedeli

Full Profile

Thomas (Tom) Fedeli focuses his practice on litigating maritime, transportation, and insurance disputes. 

He has experience representing clients in all phases of litigation, including fact and expert discovery, motion practice, and trial. His trial experience includes defending against personal injury claims arising under federal admiralty jurisdiction, a dispute involving a vessel service and repair contract, and marine insurance subrogation recovery. He has succeeded on multiple pre-trial dispositive motions, including demurrers and motions for summary judgment on issues involving federal admiralty jurisdiction and duty of care.

Tom practiced law in New York for several years before moving to California in 2016. 

He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy and continues to have an avid interest in metaphysics and the history of intellectual thought.

Admissions

• New York
• California
• Arizona
• US District Court for the Southern District of New York
• US District Courts for the Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California
• US District Court of Arizona

Education

• J.D., Tulane University Law School, 2011
• M.A., Texas Tech University, 2007
• B.A., Ohio University, 2004

Memberships

• Maritime Law Association

Experience

• Achieved favorable result at trial in federal court defending tour boat operator against claims involving personal injuries and punitive damages associated with pattern and practice.
• Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of marine terminal operator because injured truck driver failed to raise a question of fact regarding breach of the applicable standard of care.
• Succeeded on demurrer where state court agreed it lacked jurisdiction over employee’s personal injury claim because federal maritime law did not apply.
• Received several judgments in favor of clients seeking exoneration from liability under the Limitation of Liability Act.
• Successfully negotiated pre-trial dismissals of clients from lawsuits on the issue of the applicable duty of care owed in the contexts of recreational boating and charter party disputes.
• Negotiated multiple favorable settlements in property and cargo damage disputes involving proximate causation issues. 

Publications

• “Covid and the Bain of Delay: Rule 27 and § 1782 Discovery on Vessels Sitting at Anchor,” International Maritime Law Seminar, 2021 Spring Newsletter
• “The U.S. Government is Boosting Regulatory Efforts to Counter Complaints of Predatory Demurrage and Detention Billing Practices,” International Maritime Law Seminar, 2022 Spring Newsletter