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Frequently Asked Questions |
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We can provide detailed documentation from the National Archives on nearly
any product used aboard naval ships from 1940 to 1961. This period covers most ships in
service through the 1980's when asbestos was no longer authorized for use aboard naval
vessels. The same information, although not as detailed, is available for most merchant
type ships constructed by the U.S. Maritime Commission from 1939 to 1950. Some U.S. Navy
records are now available into the early-1970s. The Maritime Administration has records
for U.S. built merchant ships from the 1960's to present day. However, these can only be
accessed through the Freedom of Information Act. Very few U.S. Coast Guard documents are
available beyond 1945 from the National Archives, although a very good collection of plans
for Coast Guard cutters and craft are held by the National Archives.
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The “rule of thumb” is that documents are transferred to the
National Archives 31 years after their creation. Therefore, records for naval ships
through at least 1970 should be available. However, in 1961 the successor to the Bureau of
Ships, the Naval Ship Systems Command (now the Naval Sea Systems Command) stopped
maintaining central correspondence files by subject and began filing correspondence either
chronologically by the first letter of a ship’s hull designation or simply in
chronological order. Initially, when these files were offered to the National Archives,
the National Archives has refused to accept the files unless the Navy we re-organized the
files on a subject based system. After several years of negotiations between the Navy and
National Archives, the decision was made to destroy all documents dating from 1962 to 1965
that had not already been transferred to the National Archives. Since that time, the
National Archives has consented to accept both unclassified and classified Naval Ship
Systems / Sea Systems Command documents without reorganization. As time permits we are
reviewing the unclassified documents to make them useful for research. Top of Page
Yes, the National Archives has extensive collections of maps, full size
plans and plans from on microfilm of buildings, ships and aircraft. The National Archives
also has extensive collections of photographs, motion pictures and sound recordings
through the 1970's. Top of Page
Merchant ships built between 1940 and 1950 were the responsibility of the
U.S. Maritime Commission. The majority of Maritime Commission records have recently been
turned over to the National Archives. However, records for merchant ships built after 1950
are still under the custody of the Maritime Administration, the successor to the Maritime
Commission. These documents are only available for research through a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request. This process takes several months to deliver copies of
relevant documents. McCaffery & Associates files FOIA requests with the Maritime
Administration in our own name and do not divulge either the nature of the research or our
client’s name. Top of Page
The research conducted on behalf of our clients can be as narrow or as
broad as they request. Certainly it is not necessary to research a ship or project much
beyond the period during which the claimant(s) asserts they were exposed to asbestos.
However, narrow searches may miss important documentation. For this reason we recommend
that you discuss the case with us to that we can jointly determine the most effective
scope. Top of Page
None of the documents or other media used in our research is available in
electronic formats. The documents and plans are filed according to filing systems that
have not been in use since the 1950's. Most of the documents are filed by alphanumeric
filing codes that, frankly, take time to learn and understand. Therefore, while some do
try to conduct their own research, they usually find very few documents of limited value.
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Yes, primarily on the methods used in our research, the authenticity of
the documents provided to the court from that research, and the history of naval ships and
equipment based on our research. In addition, several of our researchers are qualified
experts in marine engineering, electrical/electronic engineering and aerospace
engineering. Top of Page
Typically our clients receive a set of documents, organized by subject, in
chronological order within each subject area bound together with a memorandum summarizing
the documents and identifying important issues within the documents. Each document will
have its essential portions highlighted for easy identification and the summary memorandum
will reference supporting documents by subject area and date. In addition there may also
be copies of plans, photographs and personnel documents, similarly organized and
highlighted. Finally, there will be a second set of self authenticating documents. Top of Page
Yes. We provide two types of self authenticating documents depending on
the type of media that the original documents come from. Original documents that are full
size engineering plans or maps and documents from microfilm are easily provided with a
National Archives certification bound together with a red ribbon. Textual documents like
correspondence or publications must go through a 4 to 6 week long process to receive a
National Archives “red ribbon” certification. During this time all of the
documents in each box of documents for which even one document is requested to be
certified are unavailable to any researcher. Because of time concerns and that the
unavailability of certain groups or types of documents may hinder our research we provide
authenticated copies of these documents. This takes the form of a sworn and notarized
statement, bound to the documents in the same fashion as the National Archives
certification, only with a blue ribbon. These authenticated documents have been accepted
by courts across the country and we are unaware of any that have not been accepted.
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The first thing to do is to call us so that we can discuss the case and
determine what, if anything, we can do on the case. In general, all we need is the
plaintiff’s full name, the names of the ships the plaintiff is alleged to have served
on and a range of dates for his service aboard those ships. It also helps
our research team to review deposition materials and the plaintiff's service
record. New clients must also first
sign our standard engagement letter. Top of Page
We charge by the hour, and reasonable expenses charged at our cost. Our
rates vary depending on the qualifications of the researcher or staff member. Rates, terms
and conditions should be discussed in detail within the context of a specific client or
case. Itemized bills are sent monthly or upon completion of our work on a case. Specific
invoice formats can be accommodated with sufficient advance notice. Top of Page
We charge by the hour, and reasonable expenses charged at our cost. Our
rates vary depending on the qualifications of the researcher or staff member. Rates, terms
and conditions should be discussed in detail within the context of a specific client or
case. Itemized bills are sent monthly or upon completion of our work on a case. Specific
invoice formats can be accommodated with sufficient advance notice. Top of Page
Effective October 1, 2007, the National Archives and Records Administration increased the fees,
among other services, for certification and reproduction of documents. The NARA memorandum summarizing these fees
is NARA fees 10-1-07.pdf;
the Federal Register published the notice about the change in document
FRvol72no159 8-17-2007.pdf and a detailed fee schedule
in document NARA rates10-1-07.pdf. Posted 10/3/2007. Top of Page
Effective defense through cost effective research