Detail-Boating Safety and Expert Witness

Dr. Robert B. Kauffman

Boating safety is a thread that runs through most of the career of Dr. Kauffman. Teaching, creating new materials, developing new models, or conducting research are all contributions that he has made. If you click on the vita section, you will find that most of the activities involve some aspect of boating safety. Some of the highlights of his involvement in this area are listed below.

BOATING SAFETY HIGHLIGHTS

River Safety Symposium. Conceptualized and organized the first River Safety Symposium that examined the large number of river fatalities that occurred during the 1970. The symposium was sponsored by the American Canoe Association, The American Red Cross and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission.

Accident Process Model. Conceptualized a model depicting the accident process that was used as a foundation for the film Cold, Wet and Alive and Beyond the Last Buoy.

Cold, Wet and Alive. The now classic hypothermia film was made in 1989 by Russ Nichols for the American Canoe Association. Obtained the grant, co-wrote the script, and did numerous other functions on the film. Earned a CINE Golden Eagle Award for the film. In a 2005 survey of boating education administration, it was still the number one boating safety video shown in the country.

Heads Up - River Rescue for River Runners. Obtained the grant and was project manager for this second ACA film on river rescue. Again, it was made by Russ Nichols. The film earned a CINE Golden Eagle Award. In addition, it resulted in the development of the Rescue Curve which in 2006 became a model used in a new outdoor leadership textbook.

River Canoeing and Canoe Camping Wallcharts. Conceptualized and designed two large boating safety wallcharts. The River Canoeing Wallchart won an international award.

Coastal Kayaking and River Kayaking Wallcharts. In 2005, provided the background information for two new scaled down versions of the wallcharts for the ACA.

BOD - American Canoe Association. From 1998 to 2006 served on the Board of Directors of the American Canoe Association. Served as Secretary of the Board for four of those years.

Instructor Trainer. Has been an Instructor Trainer Educator of canoeing, an Instructor Trainer in canoeing and rafting, and an Instructor in River Rescue.

Potomac River Study. Conducted a study of fatalities on the mainstem of the Potomac River and found that most fatalities occurred at moderate (the river is well within its banks) and not at flood or near flood levels. Most people perceive flood conditions as being dangerous. In addition, the study recommend a gauging system to warn river users. A product of this study was the development of the Drowning Trap. It found that most people were drowning at water levels that they didn't perceive as dangerous.

Expert Witness. Served as an expert witness on over seven cases (see listing below). Most of the cases involved rafting fatalities and injuries. At least one case went to trial.

Boating Fundamentals. Designed, researched and wrote book Boating Fundamentals - A manual of boating safety for the National Recreation and Parks Association in 1995. The book was innovative in that it utilized three elements: text, graphics, and cartoons.
Articles. Wrote numerous articles on boating safety (see Vita for a listing).

EXPERT WITNESS CASES

In the cases listed below, Dr. Kauffman was involved as an expert witness in varying capacities. These cases are listed below.

Dzialo v. Commonwealth (Greenfield Community College)
Timothy Jones, Assistant Attorney General
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts Office
1350 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103
Tasks: For the Defendant, reviewed materials and depositions and rendered an opinion
September 2003 to March 2004
(Disposition: Case was settled March 2004.)

Estate of Joseph Miranda V. Janice Cody D/b/a/ Winding River Rentals, Charter Township of Shelby, Yates, Inc.
Attorney: Paul Clark, Clark and Schoenbeck, P.C.
627 E. Nine Mile Road, Hazel Park, MI 48030
Tasks: For the plaintiff, reviewed depositions in a canoe livery fatality and provided an affidavit to the court.
(Disposition: Case was thrown out of court by judge)

Estate of Melanie Carlson V. Janice Cody D/b/a/ Winding River Rentals, Charter Township of Shelby
Attorney: Paul Clark, Clark and Schoenbeck, P.C.
627 E. Nine Mile Road, Hazel Park, MI 48030
Tasks: Reviewed depositions in a canoe livery fatality and assisted attorney in preparation of case for plaintiff. Gave deposition in case on March 27, 2003 and provided an affidavit to the court
December 2002 to July 2003
(Disposition: Case was settled: March 2003)

Harrison V. Passages to Adventure, Inc.
Attorney: Kevin Kaufman
P.O. Box 768, 208 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV 26330
Task: Reviewed depositions and gave deposition plaintiff at the plaintiff's request. Advised the plaintiff against pursuing the case.
May 1999
(Disposition: Case was settled or dropped)

Arnold v. Wahoo Adventures, et. al
Attorney: Bentley and Associates
Suite 714 Southbank Building, 400 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701
1999-2000
Task: Reviewed materials for plaintiff in a case where a rope entanglement occurred to a rafting passenger severely injuring the leg.
(Disposition: Unknown, case didn't advance beyond preliminary investigation)

Estate of Chad Campbell
Attorney: Mary Lynn Tate, Tate
Lowe, Rowlett, 208 West Main Street, Arlington, VA 24210
Tasks: Reviewed depositions in a rafting fatality and assisted in attorney for the plaintiff in the preparation of the case on the Russell Fork River. Gave deposition.
(Disposition: Cases settled: 1999)

Estate of Cheryl Taylor V. Class VI River Runners, Inc., et.al.
Attorney: Ed Hill
Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee and Deitzler, North Gate Business Park, 500 Tracy Way, Charleston, West Virginia 25311
Task: Reviewed depositions in a rafting fatality on the New River and assisted the attorney for the plaintiff in preparation of the case. Provided a deposition and testimony at trial.
1996-1997
(Disposition: Case went to trial)

John Percheski andFern C. Percheski vs. Lehigh River, LTD, et.al.
Attorney: Michael F. Lombardi
Lombardi and Lombardi, 1862 Oak Tree Road, PO Box 2065, Edison, NJ 08818
Task: Came into the case late in the process. Reviewed depositions and provided lawyer for the plaintiff with advise in a case where a customer severely injured his knee.
1991
(Disposition: unknown)