Additional Coverage:
- Families of Camp Mystic flood victims sue for alleged negligence in ‘preventable’ tragedy (themirror.com)
Families Sue Camp Mystic Over Fatal Fourth of July Flash Floods, Allege Gross Negligence
AUSTIN, TX – Several families of victims tragically killed in the Fourth of July flash floods at Camp Mystic in Texas have filed a negligence lawsuit against the camp owners. The devastating incident, which claimed the lives of 27 campers and counselors, has led to accusations of gross negligence and reckless disregard for safety against Camp Mystic and its proprietors.
The lawsuit, one of two filed this week by victims’ families, specifically targets the camp’s alleged failure to protect its young attendees. The families of five campers and two counselors are collectively seeking over $1 million in damages, describing the event as an “entirely preventable tragedy.”
A separate suit was filed by the family of Eloise Peck, another camper who perished in the floods. Beyond monetary compensation, the families are advocating for the implementation of stronger safety measures at youth camps across Texas.
Attorney Paul Yetter, representing the families, stated, “Camp Mystic failed at its primary job to keep its campers and counselors safe, and young girls died as a result. This action is about transparency, responsibility, and ensuring no other family experiences what these parents will now suffer the rest of their lives.”
Camp Mystic, situated along the Guadalupe River, is located in a high-risk flood zone famously known as “Flash Flood Alley.” The lawsuit contends that the camp failed to develop adequate evacuation plans in anticipation of severe weather, ignored multiple weather warnings, instructed campers to remain in their cabins as floodwaters rose, and during a delayed evacuation, prioritized the protection of equipment over human lives. These alleged actions occurred despite the camp’s awareness of its perilous location.
“These young girls died because a for-profit camp put profit over safety,” the lawsuit asserts. “The camp chose to house young girls in cabins sitting in flood-prone areas, despite the risk, to avoid the cost of relocating the cabins.”
The families involved in the lawsuit include: Warren and Patricia Bellows (parents of Anna Margaret Bellows); Blake and Caitlin Bonner (parents of Lila Bonner); Matthew and Wendie Childress (parents of Chloe Childress); Ryan and Elizabeth DeWitt (parents of Molly DeWitt); John and Andrea Ferruzzo (parents of Katherine Ferruzzo); Ben and Natalie Landry (parents of Lainey Landry); and Lindsey McCrory (mother of Blakely McCrory).
The suit was filed on Monday in state court in Austin by Houston-based Yetter Coleman LLP. The filing follows widespread outrage from several victims’ families concerning the camp’s announcement of its intentions to reopen next summer. Yetter is co-counseling the families alongside Justin Tschoepe, Reid Simpson, and Shannon Smith.
Ryan DeWitt, in a statement, expressed, “We trust that through this process, light will be shed on what happened, and our hope is that justice will pave the way for prevention and much-needed safety reform.”
Following the tragic incident and emotional testimonies from victims’ parents, Texas lawmakers have already enacted new legislation aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.