A fourth lawsuit was filed Monday against Camp Mystic and the family that manages the Christian girls summer camp.
The Lawbook previously reported on the filing of three lawsuits against the camp and its directors by families of some of the 27 victims who died in the July 4 flood. The fourth lawsuit was filed by the Lanier Law Firm on behalf of six families.
“Their parents are left to live every single day for the rest of their lives with the intense grief and the thoughts of what their babies endured that fateful night,” the lawsuit reads. “They can never change the permanent devastation that has happened to their families. But they can and will seek justice for their daughters. They can and will seek accountability from those who caused the avoidable deaths of their children. They can and will do everything in their power to affect change so that summer camps are safer; so that no other child dies from the negligence, gross negligence, lack of preparedness, and recklessness that resulted in their daughters’ deaths at Camp Mystic.”
The plaintiffs in the suit are Cole and Allison Naylor, parents of Virginia Wynne Naylor; Douglas and Carrie Hanna, parents of Hadley Rebecca Hanna; Lars and Lacey Hollis, parents of Virginia Larins Hollis; Davin and Anne Lindsey Hunt, parents of Jane Marie Hunt; Brandt and Lisa Dillon, parents of Lucy Lee Dillon; and J. Wade and Malorie Lytal, parents of Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal.
The defendants are Camp Mystic, Mystic Camps Family Partnership, Mystic Camps Management, Natural Fountains Properties, Willetta A. Eastland, George Albritton Eastland, Edward S. Eastland and Mary E. Eastland.
Mikal Watts, a plaintiff lawyer, told The Lawbook in an exclusive interview last month that he would be representing the camp and the family pro bono against any lawsuits. On Tuesday, Watts said there were “no surprises” in the lawsuits filed Monday, and that he’s expecting more will follow in coming days.
“These are all filed by excellent lawyers who I respect,” he said. “These are some of the finest lawyers in the United States, have been my friends for decades and we will work together in an amicable fashion to get these cases ready for trial.”
He said in his view the fatal July 4 flood is “a political failure,” and not the fault of his client.
The families are represented by W. Mark Lanier, Sam E. Taylor II and Sara E. Abston of Lanier Law Firm.
A total of 15 families are represented across the four lawsuits. The flood killed 25 campers and two counselors. One family lost two children, twin girls. According to those involved in the litigation, more lawsuits are expected to be filed in coming days, but some families have decided against legal action.
The Lanier Firm was among the six law firms that filed suit against Camp Mystic Monday, joining Yetter Coleman, Arnold & Itkin, Howry Breen & Herman, Tefteller Law and The Armstrong Firm.