Families of Missouri duck boat victims file $100M lawsuit

Relatives of a family of nine who were killed when a tourist duck boat sank earlier this month in Missouri have filed a $100 million lawsuit, claiming the boat company ignored warnings of severe thunderstorms. 

Seventeen people — including nine members of one Indiana family— were killed on July 19 when the vehicle went down in Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., amid high winds and waves, Buzzfeed News reported on Monday.

The negligence, wrongful death, and product liability lawsuit names Ripley Entertainment Inc., Ride the Ducks Branson and Herschend Family Entertainment as defendants.

{mosads}”Despite being aware of impending severe weather conditions, Ripley intentionally decided to take the Duck Boat out onto Table Rock Lake instead of cancelling the tour and refunding the patrons’ money,” the lawsuit states.

The tour company “recklessly risked the lives of its passengers for purely financial reasons” with knowledge that the amphibious boats were not safe in that weather, the family argues. 

“This tragedy was the predictable and predicted result of decades of unacceptable, greed-driven, and willful ignorance of safety by the Duck Boat industry in the face of specific and repeated warnings that their Duck Boats are death traps for passengers and pose grave danger to the public on water and on land,” the lawsuit states.

The case was filed in a Kansas City federal court on behalf of the estates of Ervin Coleman, 76, and Maxwell Ly, 2, Buzzfeed News reported.

Suzanne Smagala, a spokeswoman for Ripley Entertainment, said in a statement to The Hill that the company was “deeply saddened by the tragic accident” and are supporting the affected families. 

“The investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board is still underway and no conclusions have been reached,” Smagala added. “We cannot comment at this time.”

President Trump tweeted on July 20, offering his “deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those involved in the terrible boat accident” following the accident. 

My deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those involved in the terrible boat accident which just took place in Missouri. Such a tragedy, such a great loss. May God be with you all!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2018

Vice President Pence also said that he and second lady Karen Pence “send our deepest sympathies and are praying for the victims’ families and friends today.”

Our hearts break for the tragic loss of life in Missouri today. Karen and I send our deepest sympathies and are praying for the victims’ families and friends today. https://t.co/DA7uW4Drxf

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) July 20, 2018