A Boston criminal defense attorney accused of drunken boating in Boston Harbor last month has filed a five page civil complaint.
Officials say a 19-year-old passenger, Nicole Berthiaume of Auburn, Massachusetts, lost her arm in the incident.
Benjamin Urbelis, appearing in a Boston courtroom earlier this month in his bathing suit, pleaded not guilty to operating a boat under the influence causing serious bodily injuries, negligent operation of a boat, and operating a boat without a legally required ID.
Steve Boris has been practicing maritime law for more than 30 years.
He says Urbelis could be preparing for one, maybe more civil lawsuits.
Boris says this allows for Urbelis to go first if he fears there may be one or more claims.
In doing so, Boris says Urbelis can "consolidate them all in one place in one court."
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In the paperwork, it says Urbelis' 29 foot power boat, the NAUT GUILTY was tight, fully manned, equipped and supplied, seaworthy and fit for service.
Officials say 13 people were onboard at the time near Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor, some of them teens.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's office says Berthiaume jumped off to retrieve a seat pad that fell overboard.
Her arm cut off at the shoulder by the boat's propellor.
Boris says Urbelis' complaint is pretty standard and is unique to boaters.
"This is an ancient right of mariners to file this kind of petition. It's been going on since medieval times," said Boris. "Many argue that it's very outdated given that it's used by pleasure boat operators and it is part of the law mercantile originally for commerce, and number two, with the advent of insurance."
Urbelis is out of jail on $10,000 bail.
The victim was recently released from Mass General Hospital.
