WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A daughter whose dad died while on a diving charter excursion in South Florida is claiming wrongful death and negligence against the charter owners, crew and marina.
Ashley Knight, as personal representative of the Estate of Kevin Knight, filed a complaint July 7 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against Sea Squad Inc., Scuba Works, Tony Crumrine, Alexis Koh, Castaways Marina LLC and Lyle Haas alleging wrongful death and other claims.
Knight alleges that on July 22, 2022, her father was among divers on a charter vessel, the Divocean, owned by Scuba Works. She claims the boat departed the waters near Jupiter Inlet in West Palm Beach.
She further claims Scuba Works assured the divers the water was suitable for diving when it was actually murky with a visibility of 30-40 feet and a strong current. Knight claims her dad's diving equipment tube had a bulging bubble with a leak and that he was found unresponsive in the water, with blood coming out of his nose, indicating a rapid descent.
She alleges the defendants failed to provide a safe dive charter or dive gear equipment and failed to check the dive gear provided to passengers. Knight also alleges the defendants did not properly instruct or supervise her father or make timely rescue efforts after other passengers gave them notice he was in distress.
Knight claims the defendants failed to have a sufficient number of crew and that the crew was not properly trained.
Knight seeks monetary relief of more than $50,000, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Jason Margulies and Stefanie Black of LIpcon, Margulies & Winkleman PA in Coral Gables.