Insurer ordered to pay in NC parasailing deaths

WILMINGTON, N.C. — An insurance company has been ordered to finish paying $100,000 in the 2009 deaths of two women who were parasailing in Ocean Isle Beach.

The StarNews of Wilmington reported (http://bit.ly/R56B8g) the president of Marine Specialty Management, Craig Reynolds, had been ordered last December to pay $100,000 as part of an insurance claim for the deaths.

Reynolds' company was ordered in federal court in Wilmington on Thursday to pay the remaining $40,000 to settle the matter.

The estates of Cynthia Woodock and Lorrie Shoup say they were killed when they were allowed to go parasailing even though Tropical Storm Danny approached. The women were dragged in the water and hit the boat.

The boat was operated by Ocean Isle Beach Watersports and NC Watersports. They sought to have the insurer pay.

The crew of the boat, Tied High, said during a Coast Guard inquiry in 2009 that a sudden gust of wind caught them off guard. The winds were so strong that the boat almost capsized before the tow line broke, they said.

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Isn't that why the parasailing company pays premiums to the insurance company? Of course they should make the payout. A little compassion is warranted here. Just because a storm was coming doesn't mean it didn't look really nice at the beach at the time. The wind apparently came on suddenly. Tragic accident is what it was.

larterl
September 21, 2012 2:30 p.m.

The first three paragraphs are stating the same basic news. Very poorly written story...

ConcernedNCC
September 21, 2012 1:35 p.m.

"This is about the same as the lawsuit about coffee being too hot."

Sorta! but the lady who filed the coffee lawsuit didn't die. I think all parties were at fault here-girls shouldn't have gone, business shouldn't have let them. The business is the one who is supposed to KNOW what they are doing so for that they are more at fault than the girls. Sad story all the way around

Scubagirl
September 21, 2012 12:45 p.m.

Sorry but anyone who puts themself in harms way dont deserve insurance payments. An impending storm and then want to go up in the air. Did they have a death wish? This is about the same as the lawsuit about coffee being too hot.

superman
September 21, 2012 12:35 p.m.

This is a tough one. If the women knew the storm was coming, they shouldn't have ever gone out. IMO, I am ultimately responsible for my own wellbeing and have had to say "No" to people who wanted me to do something from which they would profit but was not in my best interest - or even an acceptable risk.

That said, the crew does this for a living and should never have gone out. The phrase "detrimental reliance" comes to mind.

storchheim
September 21, 2012 12:30 p.m.