4 people hurt in St. Marys boat ramp walkway collapse filing lawsuits against the city
Morgan & Morgan said it has filed four lawsuits against the city of St. Marys on behalf of four people who say they were hurt when part of the Wheeler Street boat ramp collapsed beneath them in September.
Seventeen people were injured when a metal walkway attached to a pier at the Wheeler Street Boat Ramp collapsed, City of St. Marys Manager Robert T. Horton told Action News Jax at the time.
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The four people who have filed lawsuits say they fell more than 20 feet into the river below.
Morgan & Morgan shared the following information about what the suit alleges:
“On September 20, 2022, Roy and Sandra Aders, along with Leslie and Carole Shively, were among those waiting to board a boat at the Wheeler Street boat ramp in St. Marys, GA for a Navy Veteran’s reunion event. The lawsuit alleges that, suddenly, the metal gangway on which they were standing broke away from the wooden dock, causing the Aders and the Shivelys to fall more than 20 feet into the river below. Mr. and Mrs. Aders both suffered broken bones and underwent various surgeries; they continue to require in-home care and remain homebound and unable to drive. The Shivelys also suffered leg and ankle injuries from the fall.”
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St. Marys is named as the defendant since the city owns the boat ramp. Morgan & Morgan attorneys John Morgan and Kendall Shortway, who represent the Aders and the Shivleys, said they anticipate the litigation will go on to include the construction companies and contractors that rebuilt the dock in 2020 after Hurricane Irma. Morgan and Shortway released the following statement:
“It’s reasonable to trust that public infrastructure like bridges or boat docks have been built and installed according to applicable codes and safety regulations. Unfortunately, our clients’ trust in the City of St. Marys was misplaced. The lawsuit alleges that the dock’s terrifying collapse caused significant and life-altering injuries to our clients, some of whom are still struggling to fully recover. We believe this was an abject failure by the city government and the contractors it employed, and we will do everything we can to hold the responsible parties accountable.”
PHOTOS: Metal dock off Wheeler Street Boat Ramp in St. Marys collapses with 16 people on it, police say
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