Langrock Attorneys Swift and Joselson Achieve Multi-Million Dollar Settlement in Maritime/Admiralty Case.

On Labor Day 2014, our client Joe was boating with his friend on Lake Champlain. His friend had rented the boat from a local Marina. There was an accident, and while he was in the water, Joe was injured by the boat’s propeller. Unfortunately, Joe’s friend had no insurance to cover his severe injuries (amputation of his lower leg and severe damage to the other ankle). The Marina rented the boat, despite the fact that they knew the renter did not have a boater safety certificate, required for anyone born after 1/1/74. Langrock attorneys Emily Joselson and Jim Swift brought a Maritime/Admiralty claim against the Marina for negligent entrustment. We alleged that the Marina negligently rented the motorboat to a customer who had not taken and passed an required boater safety course, and therefore was not legally permitted to operate the boat in Vermont. Although the Marina was aware of this fact, its staff decided to rent the boat anyway, and in so doing, violated its own safety rules and rental policies. After extensive litigation, we were able to settle the claim at mediation for $2,750,000.