Prosecutors are seeking restitution for the families of 34 people who tragically lost their lives in a scuba dive boat fire in 2019 off the central California coast. This incident, which occurred on September 2, 2019, marked the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history.
The judge is set to determine the amount of restitution during a hearing in federal court in Los Angeles. The tragedy led to significant changes in maritime regulations, congressional reform efforts, and multiple ongoing civil lawsuits.
The captain of the ill-fated vessel, the Conception, Jerry Boylan, was convicted last year of misconduct or neglect of a ship officer. This charge, known as seaman's manslaughter, is a pre-Civil War statute aimed at holding ship captains and crew accountable for maritime disasters.
Boylan was sentenced to four years in prison and three years of supervised release. While his appeal is ongoing, he is currently out on bond and must report to the Bureau of Prisons by August 8.
The Conception was anchored off Santa Cruz Island when it caught fire, resulting in the tragic loss of 33 passengers and a crew member who were trapped below deck. The exact cause of the blaze remains undetermined, but prosecutors attributed the rapid spread of the fire to Boylan's failure to post a required roving night watch and inadequate crew training in firefighting.
Boylan's defense sought to shift blame to boat owner Glen Fritzler, alleging that Fritzler failed to provide proper training and fostered a lax safety culture. The Fritzlers, who own Truth Aquatics Inc., have not publicly commented on the tragedy.
Following the incident, Truth Aquatics filed a lawsuit under a maritime law provision to limit liability to the value of the boat remains. This legal maneuver, used by owners of other vessels like the Titanic, requires the Fritzlers to demonstrate they were not at fault.
Additionally, victims' families have filed lawsuits against the Coast Guard, alleging lax enforcement of safety regulations. The legal proceedings surrounding this tragic event continue as efforts are made to seek justice for the victims and their families.
