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"NOT GUILTY! Michael G. Chalos Successfully Defends Athenian Sea Carriers In Three (3) Week "Magic Pipe" Trial.

Following a three (3) week trial in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Californian, Athenian Sea Carriers, Ltd., and Chief Engineer Artemious Maniatis were acquitted of all seven (7) felony charges arising from an Indictment that alleged that the defendants conspired to illegally discharge oil through a so-called "magic pipe", made false statements to Coast Guard investigators, falsified the ship‚s oil record book, obstructed justice and destroyed evidence. The verdict represented the first time a vessel‚s operator was successfully defended against MAPROL-related charges in the United States.

Prosecutors relied on the testimony of six Filipino crewmembers who claimed that the M/T CAPTAIN X. KYRIAKOU violated MARPOL and U.S. law by bypassing the vessel‚s oily water separator. Lead defense counsel Michael G. Chalos successfully demonstrated that the vessel was in compliance with all applicable international and U.S. regulations and never discharged oil overboard.

The jury disregarded the testimony of the six (6) whistleblowers, as the defense proved that the witnesses had a strong motivate to fabricate testimony in order to obtain a substantial reward from the government. The controversial reward program, which is the subject of numerous press releases on websites maintained by the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency, permits crewmember-informants to receive up to one-half of any fine assed against a vessel‚s owner or operator who has been found guilty of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships or APPS. The acquittal foreclosed the possibility that the crewmembers would receive a reward for their perjured testimony. Athenian Sea Carriers were represented by senior partner and lead counsel, Michael G. Chalos, and senior associate, Brian T. McCarthy.

To read the jury‚s verdict sheet, click here.

To read Lloyd‚s List coverage of the verdict titled: "Magic Pipe Goes Up in Smoke," click here.

To read Tradewinds coverage of the verdict titled: "Acquittal Signals Magic Pipe Shift," click here.

To read Tradewinds coverage of verdict titled: "Magic Pipe Defendants Acquitted," click here.