Miami, FL admiralty & maritime attorney Michelle Otero Valdés shares the story of the most memorable case she’s handled in her 27 years in the industry. She recalls her most memorable case with ease because it involved so many complex components. She was asked to assist a small luxury cruise line that was experiencing repeated failures in their pod propulsion system across several of their ships—a significant expense for the company. Previous counsel had already filed a lawsuit against the system’s manufacturers, but it was clear that the case would not succeed.

Stepping in with a large team, she helped turn the case around. They initiated meaningful discussions with the manufacturer, which was part of a consortium of multiple companies that were no longer collaborating effectively. Simply filing a lawsuit and seeking damages would not resolve the client’s problem.

She worked closely with the CEO of the cruise line, operational staff, and the manufacturers to reestablish collaboration among the consortium members. The result was an excellent confidential settlement that included monetary compensation, but more importantly, established a system to ensure the necessary repairs would continue for the life of the cruise line’s vessels.