10 Million Dollar Lawsuit Filed in Obion County Central Bass Team Death

[Glenn]

What are your thoughts?

https://www.thunderboltradio.com/ten-million-dollar-lawsuit-filed-in-obion-county-central-bass-team-death/

[jbsoonerfan]

I will say ridiculous and leave it at that for fear I may say what I really think. I have been a school teacher for 15 years, it's hard going to work, driving buses, taking kids on field trips, etc. and knowing that one mistake is all it takes for someone to sue you. I carry a 2 million dollar policy, hopefully I never need it.

[MN Fisher]

Another report on this had additional information.

 

"According to witnesses, the boat captain was having engine trouble the morning of the tournament before launch. Due to these mechanical issues, the team did not leave the dock with the rest of the field. People first believed they took the boat out of the water and went home, but it was later learned that they did, in fact, go fishing when their truck and empty boat trailer were found."

 

If indeed there was a problem with the boat and he launched anyway - then yes, this lawsuit is entirely appropriate...though the amount may be a bit much.

[newriverfisherman1953]

Sign of our times. I think it is a tragedy added to a tragedy. A lot of people were hurt by these deaths, including her. Ten million might heal the hurt. Might not too. 

[BrianMDTX]

It sounds like fault is with the boat captain if the boat had known engine trouble. But today, someone wants somebody to pay $$$. 

[jbsoonerfan]

Sounds like the boat captain is the ex-husband of the lady suing since his estate is named. 

[A-Jay]

5 hours ago, Glenn said:

What are your thoughts?

https://www.thunderboltradio.com/ten-million-dollar-lawsuit-filed-in-obion-county-central-bass-team-death/

 

My thoughts are that this is another tragic accident with loss of life.

While I am not familiar with the circumstances surrounding this incident,

I will say that having a suitable & serviceable anchor readily accessible along with sufficient length of quality anchor line, can sometimes save your life.

Especially in areas with current and a dam. 

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

Sue the school? What would that help ? Don’t fish above a dam when water is going over the top 

[huZZah]

When I was in school it was “what did my child do?”  Now when I call home it’s “what did you do to my child.”  My personal favorite is “my child would never lie to me.” 
 

And this sad event, well, even the notion that a multi million dollar payout will replace your child is just sadder for these parents. 

[MIbassyaker]

It's hard to have a well-formed opinion without knowing more about what, exactly, the suit alleges. 

The boat operator was the father of the kid whose mother is the plaintiff, and the administrator of his estate is named as a defendant.  Going after his estate for damages makes sense, although targeting the school district and BoE too seems weird.

[jbsoonerfan]

27 minutes ago, huZZah said:

When I was in school it was “what did my child do?”  Now when I call home it’s “what did you do to my child.”  My personal favorite is “my child would never lie to me.” 
 

And this sad event, well, even the notion that a multi million dollar payout will replace your child is just sadder for these parents. 

Yep, money won't bring her baby back, but it will buy her a new house, Escalade, and all the things she would never have without such a lawsuit. 

 

Dadgum, I'm gonna end up saying what I really think at some point.

[N Florida Mike]

Frivolous to sue anyone at the school. The person apparently responsible died. I could see suing to get his estate maybe, depending on the circumstances.

[volzfan59]

If his boat was having problems and he chose to go out anyway, this is 100% on the deceased father and no one else. I hate to say that as he lost his life, and that of his son and the other young man.

 

[Captain Phil]

There is a lesson here for anyone wishing to put on a bass tournament.  My former bass club runs an annual big bass tournament each year on the Harris Chain. I MC'd the weigh-in during this tournament a few times. I get calls all the time from people who wish to run their own tournaments.  The first thing I tell them is about insurance.   Our club was a B.A.S.S. club.  B.A.S.S. provided us with tournament insurance.  We had a few instances, but nothing on this scale.   I quit doing the public portions of the tournaments because I was afraid of personal law suits.  Years ago, I fished a tournament on Lake Okeechobee where a boater was killed when the boats took off in the dark.  You never want to have that experience.  I'm not judging what happened in the above case as we don't have all the facts.  The way things are today, anyone can sue you for any reason and there are attorneys who will take your case for free.  

[Logan S]

Putting my opinions of the lawsuit aside...

 

Regardless of the outcome, I think it will make the directors/coaches of these HS events think twice about conditions they send anglers out in...Which is not a bad thing.  IMO some of the HS circuits/anglers/events need a slight reality check, this might provide it.  (The incident itself should have, but the lawsuit might drive it home). 

[Dwight Hottle]

On 3/19/2021 at 10:16 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Sue the school? What would that help ? Don’t fish above a dam when water is going over the top 

 

The school could be held responsible because they sanctioned the event allowing participants to fish near the dam. Or they didn't disallow the participants to fish within 5 miles of the dam. Anyone who has ever fished a river system should know the inherent dangers of fishing near a dam. I don't like the crap that goes on with frivolous law suits anymore than anyone else but the law does allow the suit to be filed. When someone files a suit they cast a wide net regarding responsibility & let a judge or jury to sort it out.

[huZZah]

2 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

The school could be held responsible because they sanctioned the event allowing participants to fish near the dam.

This feels an awful lot like spilling your coffee on yourself and suing cause it’s hot. I know the school planned it, but at what point is it just a tragic accident? Or personal responsibility? If I die of a heart attack walking uphill can I sue the contractor that poured the sidewalk?  
 

I just hate that these tragedies happen and instead of seeing anything about how great the deceased was, what they lived for, had to offer, etc., all you see is lawsuits and blaming. 
 

I agree with you that the school could hold some responsibility...but no one told the kid they HAD to fish it. 

[roadwarrior]

On 3/20/2021 at 12:21 PM, volzfan59 said:

If his boat was having problems and he chose to go out anyway, this is 100% on the deceased father and no one else. I hate to say that as he lost his life, and that of his son and the other young man.

 

Sums it up for me, too.

[ironbjorn]

2 hours ago, huZZah said:

This feels an awful lot like spilling your coffee on yourself and suing cause it’s hot. I know the school planned it, but at what point is it just a tragic accident? Or personal responsibility? If I die of a heart attack walking uphill can I sue the contractor that poured the sidewalk?  
 

I just hate that these tragedies happen and instead of seeing anything about how great the deceased was, what they lived for, had to offer, etc., all you see is lawsuits and blaming. 
 

I agree with you that the school could hold some responsibility...but no one told the kid they HAD to fish it. 

This "classic example" of American sue culture isn't so good when you know the truth beyond "woman spilled on herself". McDonald's coffee used to be over 190*F, well beyond boiling point. They acknowledged that it was too hot and was unsafe, but they didn't change anything. Over 700 complaints of spills causing burns were reported and they took no action. Now insert this lady. Something like 80 years old. She was just the latest victim of having spilled the boiling coffee on herself, causing 3rd degree burns and nearly taking her life. She fully admitted that it was her fault she spilled it, but she didn't expect to be given boiling hot coffee, either.

[TOXIC]

Was a constant fear of mine when I was guiding.  Sooooo many things can go wrong in a boat.  I have had clients get so excited they walk off the front deck and land in the cockpit in front of the steps.  I had husband/wife clients that were the lead chair violin for the Boston Symphony and the Kennedy Center respectively.  They loved to Crappie fish.  They were not very proficient with fishing gear and I watched them like a hawk fearing they would sink a hook into their hand and sue me into oblivion.  You don’t want to know what my insurance bill was for the guide service.  ?

[jimmyjoe]

35 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

McDonald's coffee used to be over 190*F, well beyond boiling point.

 

   Could you please tell me the boiling point of water?                            jj

[huZZah]

Lol was thinking the same thing but I get the point. 

[jbsoonerfan]

52 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   Could you please tell me the boiling point of water?                            jj

Just a few degrees North of 190. LOL!!!  

[CountryboyinDC]

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

Could you please tell me the boiling point of water?  

100 degrees Celsius, 373 Kelvin, and 212 Farenheit.  Coffee should boil at a slightly lower temperature.

[slonezp]

They're filing the lawsuit against the county. On what grounds?