An attorney for the widow of a powerboat racer killed in last year's contest is looking for event organizers and sponsors he can hold financially responsible for the Sarasota man's death.

Attorney Michael Allweiss in late December sent letters to 20 Key West-based businesses and organizations that sponsored the Super Boat International's 31st annual Key West World Championships in November, when throttle man Joey Gratton of Sarasota was killed.

This is looking more and more like a vendetta that will only hurt the sport...I am all for finding out what happened but scaring the sponsors that help support the sport???? He says he is not going after the sponsors but this will scare any perspective sponsors away IMO

http://keysnews.com/node/37116

What does the letter say?

And who is he representing?

Comment:

Well it seems the Citizens did a story 'Attorney probes event Sponsors." I could not read the story as it asks you to pay for a subscription to read the story.

Maybe someone in Florida could post up a copy.

It sure would be interesting to read this letter and to see what authority this attorney is citing to include third party advertisers as possible negligent defendants.

Hypothetically speaking, if this type of liability were to attach somehow [not saying it would] no one would ever advertise in any event boating or motorsports of anykind. It smacks of a publicity stunt to me but then again I do not know the law in Florida some states have interesting case law and statutes.

KAP

So as not to violate the copyright,
here is a link to their web site showing today's article.

http://keysnews.com/node/37117


Here is a link to WINK NBC news, a story from yesterday

http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florid...death-lawsuit-

Interesting

Part of the articles from The Citizen, Key West News Paper

Will letters chill events?
Sponsors fear safety liability

BY MANDY MILES
Citizen Staff

A state law that apparently holds sponsors of water-related events responsible for the safety of spectators and participants could have a chilling effect on Key West events that depend on local businesses for money.
Attorney Michael Allweiss, who is representing the widow of a man who died in the November powerboat races, cited Florida Statute 327.48 in letters he sent to sponsors of the 31st Annual Key West World Championship, including Waste Management, Fury Water Adventures, Sebago Key West, WKWF radio station, Spottswood Cos. and others.
The law states that “... any person or organization sponsoring a regatta or boat race, marine parade tournament or exhibition shall be responsible for providing adequate protection to the participants, spectators and other users of the water.”
In his letter to sponsors, Allweiss claims racer Joey Gratton “perished ... because the sponsors failed to provide adequate protection to the participants ...”
He goes on to request insurance coverage and policy information from the sponsors and asks that they forward the letter to their insurance carriers.
“This just represents the legal system’s exploitation of every possible avenue,” said Scott Saunders, owner of Fury Water Adventures, who criticized Allweiss and all lawyers…

See SPONSORS, Page 3A




Lawyer probes event sponsors

BY ADAM LINHARDT
Citizen Staff

Seeks insurance info from powerboat race sponsors,
saying state law could make them liable in death
An attorney for the widow of a powerboat racer killed in last year’s contest is looking for event organizers and sponsors he can hold financially responsible for the Sarasota man’s death. Attorney Michael Allweiss in late December sent letters to 20 Key West-based businesses and organizations that sponsored the Super Boat International’s 31st annual Key West World Championships in November, when throttle man Joey Gratton of Sarasota was killed.

The letters ask sponsors —the city of Key West, Spottswood Cos., Rick’s and Durty Harry’s Entertainment Complex, Charley Toppino & Sons, Waste Management, Fury Water Adventures, Sebago Watersports and Gary’s Plumbing among them — to provide Allweiss with a copy of their insurance policy, liability coverage limits, any statement of any policy or coverage defense, and the name of each insured.

The letters cite Florida Statute 327.48, part of which states, “Any person or organization sponsoring a regatta or boat race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition shall be responsible for providing adequate protection to the participants, spectators and other users of the water.” The letters state that Gratton died Nov. 11 while competing in the race “because the sponsors failed to provide adequate protection to the participants in violation of Section 327.48.”

See SPONSORS, Page 3A

you no what the lawyer name there first born girl ?







""" SUE """""

i understand the widdow of the deceased recer filing a wrongful death lawsuit,but to go after the sponser,s of the event is just plain WRONG imo.something very wrong with the existance of this law,what kind of lawmaker comes up with this unreal way of thinking:b sflag::bsf lag:

If he did not request that information I would be stunned. He is doing his job.

I do believe that it's called "Discovery"

It's not a sprint, this one will be a marathon