Attorney Romney Cullers, Partner at The Becker Law Firm, recently brought a difficult case to a close by securing a multi-million dollar settlement for the family of a 12-year-old boy who tragically drowned while attending an overnight summer camp in rural Ohio.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in December 2018, alleged the camp and several camp employees were reckless in their attempts to administer a swimming test on the camp’s premises.
As the lawsuit noted, children who attended the camp were required to pass a deep water swim test if they wanted to swim in the large lake located on the campground. During the swimming test, the young boy disappeared below the surface. Lifeguards conducting the test were unable to rescue him because the lake water was murky and deep, and prevented them from seeing below the surface.
Following failed rescue attempts by camp personnel, a team of professional divers recovered the boy’s body on the bottom of the lake directly below the spot where he had jumped into the water for the swim test.
A comprehensive investigation conducted by The Becker Law Firm revealed several lapses in the training of lifeguards involved in the incident, as well as camp management’s violations of national standards for the safe operation of youth camps involving swimming activities. Camp management personnel knowingly took risks with children that put their lives in danger. Evidence obtained through these meticulous inquiries enabled Mr. Cullers to effectively negotiate a $2.5 million settlement for the boy’s parents.
While there is no happy ending to tragic cases like these, securing accountability through the civil justice system can provide families who lose loved ones to preventable acts of negligence with the justice and compensation they deserve. What’s more, these cases help send a powerful message to all those with similar responsibilities for ensuring child safety – be it at camps, schools, or sports programs – that negligence and failures to meet established standards are simply inexcusable. If that message prevents just one injury or death, it’s worth the all the effort.
Romney Cullers is a NBTA-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer who has dedicated over 25 years of his professional career to trying complex cases on behalf of families across Ohio. Cullers and our experienced team of civil trial lawyers at The Becker Law Firm have earned our firm a reputation as caring and talented advocates, as well as record results in cases involving serious injuries, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and premises liability. If you have questions regarding drowning accidents or any preventable injury or death, call (440) 252-4399.