PropellerSafety.com

Archive for Propeller Accident Trial – Page 8

Boating Industry Needs Legal Defense Against Emerging Propeller Safety Devices / Technologies

The boating industry has been pretty successful in defending propeller injury cases when the plaintiff presents a traditional propeller guard (ring or cage type guard) as the exemplar, example of how the defendant could have prevented the accident. This post reviews those defenses, reviews how some modern day products are challenging those defenses, and how […]

William E. Coxe III vs. Yamaha Motor Corporation USA and Maverick Boat Company Propeller Case Settled

William E. Coxe III was boating in Beaufort County, South Carolina, with a companion on January 31, 2009 in his 18 foot Hewes Redfisher built by Maverick Boat Company. As they returned to the CC Haigh Jr. Boat Landing, Mr. Coxe dropped off his companion to go get his truck and boat trailer. Mr. Coxe […]

Adrian Todd v. Marine Power International Pty Ltd T/as Mercury Marine Australia Propeller Case Settled

Adrian Todd was 14 years old when he was struck in the face by a boat propeller on April 21, 2008 at Refuge Bay in New South Wales (NSW) Australia. His cheekbone was crushed, his left eye socket was damaged, his left cheek was severely lacerated, his nose and upper lip were cut in half, […]

John Mc Garrigle v. Mercury Marine Propeller Case Settled

McGarrigle v. Mercury Marine was settled today, August 28, 2012. Earlier today Judge Noel Hillman of the United States District Court for the State of New Jersey signed the “Stipulation of Dismissal and Order” in which the parties voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice against all defendants, meaning the case was settled. In John and […]

Regulations, Standards, Statements, and Developments Resulting in More Boat Builders Offering Propeller Guards

Several regulations, standards, statements, and developments have resulted in more boat builders offering propeller guards. Among these are: U.S. Code of Federal Regulations U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 46: Shipping Part 160 – Lifesaving Equipment Subpart 160.156 – Rescue Boats and Fast Rescue Boats (SOLAS) requires each propeller of a rescue boat be […]

Mercury Marine / Dick Snyder 1989 Propeller Guard

Dick Snyder, Mercury Marine’s expert witness in propeller guard cases, designed a propeller guard back in 1989. Placing the event in historical perspective, this was a very eventful time. The U.S. Coast Guard NBSAC Propeller Guard Subcommittee was formed on May 11, 1988, met twice more in 1988, met in May of 1989, then delivered […]

Laass vs. Storm Lake, et al. (Mercury Marine and Lund Company) Settled

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa Western Division filed documents yesterday (June 12, 2012) stating the court has been advised the case has been settled and the parties anticipate no further action beyond filing a stipulated dismissal. We covered this case involving the death of a young boy earlier in […]

Lawrence E. “Larry” Thibault Obituary

We just became aware of the passing of Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Thibault back on September 10, 2011. He was well know as a biomechanics expert witness for the plaintiffs in propeller strike cases. Dr. Thibault, a former Chairman of the School of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and founded Biomechanics, Inc. at Exton Pennsylvania. […]

Michael Hinton v. Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) propeller accident trial

Michael Hinton was trying to retrieve his son’s hat which had blown into the water on September 10, 2000. He was on the swim deck, crouched, hanging onto the swim ladder and getting ready to reach for the hat. The swim ladder was anchored to the transom by a nylon strap through a grommet. The […]

Deondra Scott v. Allen, Orzolek, and Chaparral Boats

Deondra Scott was swimming behind a rented boat at North Carolina’s annual Lake Norman Lake Bash on June 25, 2011. A novice operator backed over her, then went forward over her striking her twice with the Chaparral boat’s propeller. Scott filed suit against the boat operator (Dennis Allen), the boat rental operation (David Orzolek), and […]