Beaudoin, Thomas A.

James M. Beard has been representing injury victims in negligence and wrongful death claims for 23 years. He is one of the founding partners of the law firm of Beard Stacey Trueb and Jacobsen, LLP. Beard's extensive experience involving the handling of fishing vessel sinkings is widely regarded. He has represented deceased crewmen's families in widely publicized cases such as the ALEUTIAN ENTERPRISE, ARCTIC ROSE, GALAXY, LIN J, PACE SETTER, AMBER DAWN, NESIKA, ALASKA RANGER, and KATMAI. Beard is believed to have handled more maritime death claims than any other attorney in the country.

Over the course of his career, Beard has been involved with over a thousand maritime injury and Jones Act negligence claims. His experience allows him to quickly understand the facts of most vessel accidents, allowing him to cost effectively focus on proving negligence and unseaworthiness. There simply are not many types of shipboard accidents and injuries that Beard and his partners do not have experience in handling. Experience is the key to success, whether your claim is small or large. Beard has successfully handled many catastrophic injury claims, recovering compensation for claims including:

Fish Processor Jones Act Injuries - 3.35 million

Fish Processor Wrongful Death - 1.5 Million

Tug boat Deckhand Brain Injury - 3.5 million

Medical Negligence - 2.1 million

Fish Processor Hand Injury- 2.5 million

Crab Boat Sinking - 3.0 million

Factory Trawler Sinking - 2.5 million

Deckhand Injury - 1.7 million

Fishing Vessel  Sinking - 4.8 million

Beard's practice is limited to litigating claims against employers, vessel owners, and their insurance companies. He prides himself on being an advocate for injured seamen, fishermen, and fish processors. If you are looking for a fair and honest appraisal of your injury claim, Beard has the experience and confidence to evaluate and honestly discuss your claim with you.

Beard is no stranger to hard work. He grew up in Ilwaco, Washington, where he worked on the docks and in canneries unloading fishing vessels. He commercially fished for salmon in the summers, and worked as an oysterman on Willapa Bay. Following graduating from the University of Washington, he returned home to work as a deckhand on an oyster dredge, earning money that would eventually allow him to go to law school. Beard remembers his days fishing and working on boats as some of his most favorite memories.

Beard is licensed to practice law in Washington, Alaska, and Oregon. He graduated from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1983.

Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP, associates with local attorneys in other states in cases involving seamen with disabling injuries.

Jones Act and Maritime Injury Claims
Wrongful Death
Commercial Fishing Accidents
Deck Hand Injury Claims