BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - The family of a woman sent into Boston Harbor in early morning hours when a speedboat crashed is suing the boat's pilot and another one who allegedly struck her while she swam to be rescued has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
A lawsuit was filed April 8 in Suffolk County Superior Court by Wilfred Julce, the representative of the estate of Jeanica Julce. The defendants named in the case are Ryan Denver and Lee Rosenthal.
The complaint alleges that on July 17, 2021, Jeanica Julce was a passenger on a vessel named "Make It Go Away," owned and operated by defendant Ryan Denver. Around 3:00 a.m., the vessel struck an immovable navigation device in Boston Harbor due to Denver's negligent operation.
It is alleged that Denver had consumed alcohol prior to operating the vessel.
The incident resulted in the capsizing of the vessel and all eight passengers onboard, including Jeanica Julce, were thrown into the water. The plaintiff asserts that Jeanica was merely a passenger with no operational control over the vessel.
Boats responded to the accident, one of which was operated by Lee Rosenthal. It is alleged his boat struck Julce and she was never rescued.
"After an extensive search, Jeanica Julce’s body was recovered from the bottom of Boston Harbor by divers with the Boston Fire Department," the suit says.
"It was noted when her body was located that, initially, identification of the body could not be made because the body needed to be placed in multiple body bags and the Medical Examiner needed to reassemble the body to make an identification."
The case seeks recovery for conscious pain and suffering as well as wrongful death under Mass. Gen. L. c. 229, § 1 et seq., known as the Massachusetts Wrongful Death Act.
Denver was indicted for manslaughter for the accident.
The plaintiff is represented by Douglas Sheff Sheff & Cook, LLC.