Jury awards injured Austin man $3.8 Million

[clayinaustin]

Jury awards injured Austin man $3.8 Million

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A federal jury has ordered boat manufacturer Brunswick Corp. to pay $3.8 million to a man who lost part of his leg after it was caught in a propeller on Lake Austin.

I don't know all of the details, but this doesn't look good for the boating industry.

[cigdaze]

Wow. That's not good at all. This will undoubtedly re-invigorate the "prop guard" movement that we saw defeated a few years ago.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A federal jury has ordered boat manufacturer Brunswick Corp. to pay $3.8 million to a man who lost part of his leg after it was caught in a propeller on Lake Austin.

Jacob Brochtrup was 18 when he was injured while wakeboarding with friends celebrating July 4th in 2007.

Brochtrup's lawsuit claimed Brunswick did not have safety devices, including guards and covers, to prevent Brochtrup from becoming tangled or stuck in the propeller.

In a statement, Brunswick officials said they are sympathetic to Brochtrup but "stand behind our products, which are used safely and properly by boaters around the world."

The company said it would consider whether to appeal.

[cigdaze]

http://www.spin-site.org/index.htm

[Chris]

I checked here-

http://www.personalresponsibility.com/

...nothing. Just as I suspected.

Now what happens when everyone injured in an automobile receives a $3.8 mil judgment?

I slipped on my staircase yesterday morning and landed on the foyer floor. Should I sue the lumberyard where I bought the materials, or should I file directly again's God for growing the trees in the first place?

[fund razor]

Here another article that says he failed at a suit against Mercury in 2008, and that the accident was in 2005.

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/65048727.html

[SKATIN]

I checked here-

http://www.personalresponsibility.com/

...nothing. Just as I suspected.

Now what happens when everyone injured in an automobile receives a $3.8 mil judgment?

I slipped on my staircase yesterday morning and landed on the foyer floor. Should I sue the lumberyard where I bought the materials, or should I file directly again's God for growing the trees in the first place?

Well if you had a chance to the same judge and jury you should sue both

[2TR]

1st How did he get under a running boat?

Did his buddy driving back over him?

Did he swim up to the back while the boat was still in gear?

Seems like every answer most likely points to some ones stupidity, not the boat/motors fault.

[Knot 4 Me]

Common sense/Boating 101 - Don't get any appendage you are fond of too close to that spinning metal thingy at the back of the boat.

[Coolerman]

wtf? i think michelin and gm owe me $3.8million after my foot got ran over.......

[cigdaze]

This is how it happened.

Brochtrup had just finished his turn on the wakeboard when a tow rope popped off the back of the white Sea Ray ski boat.

Brochtrup jumped out of the boat to grab the line. Unaware that Brochtrup was in the water behind him, 18-year-old driver Patrick Houston put his family's boat in reverse.

Sounds like two people are partially at fault: (1)Brochtrup (10% fault) who jumped in without warning the driver, and (2) the driver (90% fault) for engaging the drive without looking around.

To find fault with Brunswick is asinine.

[fund razor]

I always thought that the Captain is responsible for his idiots. Not the boat maker.

I go with number 2.
Driver didn't look to see what or who he would hit before he shifted the boat.

[t500hps]

so I go play catch in the center lane of the interstate and it's Toyota's fault when one of it's cars hits me????

[fund razor]

so I go play catch in the center lane of the interstate and it's Toyota's fault when one of it's cars hits me????

Yeah, except for that one guy from California with the Prius.
If he hits you he is on his own.

[JupiterSunsation]

Hell for 3.8mm I might let someone back over my leg........then you can tell the ladies it was a war injury from back at in the day.......

[Airpacker]

It doesn't matter WHO is at fault anymore. Judges always find the entity with the most money or the biggest insurance policy at fault. Period. Game over. End of story

[mustang]

This is why this country needs tort reform. We no longer pursue the responsible party but the one with the deepest pockets!

[sledge]

Judges always find the entity with the most money or the biggest insurance policy at fault.

It wasn't a judge, it was a jury.

So remember this the next time we try to get out of jury duty: the only people with nothing better to do to get out of jury duty, are the lazy asses that will vote against the deep pockets.

How many business owners do you think sit on a jury each year?

[Bobcat]

Mandatory sticker on lower unit.

[rainmn]

Clay, didn't you lose a toe to your Cig?

Sounds like a missed opportunity there.....

[bret]

That's why you wakeboard with a wakeboard boat (inboard) not an I/O.