JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is arguing through court filings that a lawsuit pertaining to a July duck boat accident that killed 17 people, should not be dismissed and should remain in the state's Taney County Circuit Court.
Hawley's court filings stem from the requests of defendants in a lawsuit, Ripley Entertainment and Branson Duck Vehicles, to dismiss and move the duck boat case to federal court. The accident took place on Missouri's Table Rock Lake.
Hawley argues the defendants' requests are an attempt to delay the state's enforcement action and evade possible court orders that could prohibit the defendants from resuming their boat operation.
“Protecting Missouri consumers is hugely important to this office,” Hawley said in a statement. “This tragedy should not have happened—and we must do all that we can to ensure it cannot happen again.”
In the state's opposition motion, the Attorney General's Office stated "In committing such outrageous actions of deceit, misleading statements, fraudulent concealment, and unfair trade practices in connection with commercial operations, the defendants are not subject to regulation and oversight of the U.S. Coast Guard. Their misconduct is regulated by the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act and subject to the oversight of the Missouri attorney general."
The lawsuit alleges Ripley Entertainment and Branson Duck Vehicles violated the state's Merchandising Practices Act.