Boat designer dropped from federal lawsuit

BANGOR – A Massachusetts boat designer has been dropped as a defendant in a federal lawsuit involving a Mount Desert Island boatyard, an attorney for the plaintiff said Friday.

Designer Geoff Dickes of Oak Bluffs, Mass., was initially named in the complaint, filed in late December with U.S. District Court in Bangor, but he was removed from the suit on Thursday, the attorney said.

After further review, “we decided he should not be included” in the suit, said Michael Savasuk, the Portland attorney representing Benjamin H. Gannet of Manchester, Mass.

Gannet seeks $350,000 in damages from Malcolm Pettegrow and Malcolm Pettegrow Inc. of Southwest Harbor for alleged poor design and workmanship in building a sports fishing yacht for Gannet.

Savasuk said Friday the boat, described as a “high-end, high-speed” vessel, cost Gannet more than $1 million.