familyties

Aries

Hot Boater
 
Havasu Springs, AZ
Posts: 253
APPD 0.03
Post Rank: 91
Hallett 210
|
 |
Posted: July 29 2013,12:21 pm |
Post # 1 |
 |
LOS ANGELES - A superior court jury in Los Angeles awarded $21.7 million Tuesday to a Covina woman severely injured while riding a personal watercraft in 2008.
Fabiola Esparza, of Covina, suffered a permanent brain injury at 15-years-old while a passenger on a Polaris Industries personal watercraft that collided with a boat on the Colorado River near Blythe. Esparza's attorneys largely blamed a Polaris manufacturing defect, which cut the watercraft's steering when the driver released the throttle. The court found Polaris Industries liable for $11.5 million of the total award, with the remainder divided between the driver of the boat, Donald Lane, and the unnamed driver of the personal watercraft. Lane testified he turned his boat in front of the personal watercraft to protect three grandchildren on an inflatable boat tied behind it
The jury found the driver of the personal watercraft liable for 20 percent of the award.
Polaris sympathized with Esparza in a statement but disagreed with the jury, saying their vehicle was safe and the accident was caused by excessive speed, alcohol and reckless driving.
I feel bad for the young girl but why sue Polaris? Did they make the jet ski driver drink and drive? Did Polaris have control of the throttle? I don't know any of these people and don't own any Polaris products, I have had stand-up and set down jets skis and a jet boat back in the 70's the steering problem is not something new. Maybe a little training for jet ski drivers (they are several that need it these days) Just my opinion. This will costs us all in the long run. So Cal Old Crew
No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
|