IMPROPERLY BOLTED CHRIS-CRAFT CLEATS CAUSE ACCIDENTS LEADING TO BLINDNESS AND BRAIN DAMAGE

 

Mark E. Tietig vs. Chris-Craft Corporation and Canadian Univeral Insurance Company, Unlimited, insurers
11th Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida

 

Mark Tietig was a college student at Florida International University when he participated in a school-sponsored sailing trip from Miami to the Bahamas.  Unfortunately, the engine on the sailboat broke down not far from Bimini and Tietig’s group hailed a passing motorboat for a tow. The boat that offered to help was a wooden Chris-Craft and a tow line was secured from the sailboat to one of the stern cleats of the Chris-Craft.  During the course of the tow, the stern cleat that the tow line was attached to ripped out and shot back to the sailboat at over 100 mph. The cleat struck Mark Tietig between the eyes instantly blinding him. After a two-week trial, the jury found that the Chris-Craft was defective because the stern cleat was improperly attached to the deck.  The jury returned a verdict for $7,500,000 reduced by 25% due to comparative negligence.

 

Lorraine McCann and John D. McCann, III, her husband vs. Murray Chris Craft Cruisers, Inc. f/k/a Chris Craft Corporation, Certain Underwriters at Lloyds of London, insurers and Canadian Universal Insurance Company, Unlimited insurers
11th Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida

 

Tragedy struck the McCann family of New York in a case remarkably similar to the Tietig case. While heading up the Hudson River on the family’s Bluewater yacht, Mr. McCann saw a wooden Chris Craft that was stuck on a sandbar. Like so many Good Samaritans, Mr. McCann offered to tow him off.  A tow line was secured from the McCann vessel to the stern cleat of the Chris Craft. And, as power was applied, tragedy struck. As in the Tietig case, the stern cleat of the Chris-Craft ripped from the deck and shot back to the McCanns on a nylon tow line.  This time, the cleat struck Mr. McCann’s 10-year-old son in the head causing permanent brain damage. Discovery revealed that, just as in the Tietig case, the stern cleat of the Chris-Craft was not bolted through the deck but was attached only with small screws. There was no possibility that the cleats could withstand the rigors of foreseeable acts of towing.  Shortly after the case was filed, Chris-Craft voluntarily settled the case for $6.5 million.