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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – A Fort Lauderdale jury has awarded $21.7 million to the family of a West Palm Beach man who died on July 5, 2005, when his boat struck an unlit buoy in a marina in Freeport in Grand Bahama, The Bahamas.
"It has taken nine years to resolve this tragic negligence case, but finally justice has been served," said Miami attorney Robert L. Parks (seen here) who represented Patricia A. Karoussos with co-counsel Ted Fournaris of Theodore Fournaris. "There is no reason that Rene Karoussos, an experienced boater and former Navy Seal, should have died in a boating accident."
Broward Circuit Court Judge Mily Rodriguez-Powell presided at the trial, which ended with the Feb. 4 jury verdict against Port Lucaya Marina Company, Ltd. on behalf of Patricia A. Karoussos, and their two children.
"While coming into the Freeport marina, Rene's boat struck a buoy that should have been lit by the marina operator," said Parks. "The strong impact threw Rene against the windshield and then into the water. As Rene was a strong swimmer, he must have been knocked unconscious and was unable to keep himself afloat."
Born in Nassau, The Bahamas, Parks has handled a number of resort-related negligence cases through the years. A nationally recognized trial attorney with more than 45 years of experience, he has been named one of the 'Best Lawyers of America' every year since its inception in 1983.
Parks said that Rene Karoussos joined the Navy after graduating from high school in 1979, and became a Navy Seal instructor until 1990, and married Patricia in 1994. At the time of his death, Karoussos was general sales manager for Braman BMW in West Palm Beach.
For the Fourth of July weekend in 2005, the Karoussos family planned a four-day trip to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island with their friends from South Carolina, Mark and Gloria Husak, and the Karoussos' babysitter for their 5-year-old twins.
After sailing to Freeport, Rene Karoussos and Mark Husak docked their boat at Port Lucaya Marina. At the end of the long weekend, they decided to go fishing one last time. On their return, they entered Bell Channel, the only way to enter Port Lucaya Marina, and were traveling about 20 to 25 knots.
Suddenly there was a loud impact and the bow of the boat rose out of the water according to Husak, who was knocked to the bottom of the boat and lost consciousness. As soon as he recovered, Husak began searching for Karoussos but was unable to find his friend. Karoussos body was recovered the next morning by the U.S. Coast Guard Sea Rescue and Recovery team and taken to a local hospital.
"Rene was a loving husband and a great father," said Parks. "The family still mourns his death very much."
The Law Offices of Robert L. Parks, P.L. is a Miami-based plaintiff’s litigation firm specializing in aviation, resort litigation, premises liability, negligent security, commercial litigation, maritime/admiralty, and general wrongful death and negligence claims. For more information, please contact Robert L. Parks at bob@rlplegal.com or (305) 445-4430.
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