The families of 13 campers and two counselors who tragically lost their lives during the devastating floods at Camp Mystic in Central Texas have filed a lawsuit against the camp. They claim that the camp prioritized profit over safety and disregarded pleas from campers and counselors to evacuate.
The lawsuit, which includes four separate cases, was filed on behalf of the families of Eloise Peck, Virginia Naylor, Hadley Hanna, Virginia Hollis, Jane Hunt, Lucy Dillon, Kellyanne Lytal, Ellen Getten, Margaret Bellows, Lila Bonner, Molly DeWitt, Lainey Landry, and Blakely McCrory, as well as counselors Chloe Childress and Katherine Ferruzzo.
The legal action alleges that the camp could have prevented the deaths of 25 campers and two counselors during the July 4 flood. It claims that Camp Mystic failed to safely evacuate its campers and counselors, instructing them to remain in the cabins despite life-threatening flood conditions.
The lawsuit points to negligence on the part of Richard “Dick” Eastland, the camp’s owner and executive director, and Edward Eastland, the camp’s director, for not adequately responding to flash flood warnings. Dick Eastland tragically perished in the flood.
Ryan DeWitt, speaking on behalf of his daughter Molly, stated that the lawsuit is a way to honor her memory and seek justice for the families affected by the tragedy.
The legal action also highlights that Camp Mystic had received alerts from the National Weather Service prior to the flood and notes the camp’s history of deadly floods. The lawsuit emphasizes that the flood could have been predicted and prevented.
The families of the victims allege that the camp delayed taking necessary actions to protect the campers and counselors, focusing instead on safeguarding camp equipment. Tragically, lives could have been saved if prompt evacuation measures had been taken.
The lawsuit details the events leading up to the deaths of the campers and counselors, citing instances where warnings were ignored and appropriate actions were not taken. It also questions the camp’s decision to remove certain cabins from flood hazard areas to save costs, despite the ongoing risk of flooding.
Despite the tragedy, Camp Mystic plans to reopen this summer, with one camper still missing. The lawsuit criticizes the camp for refusing to take responsibility for the incident and attributing it to an “act of God.”
The families affected by this devastating event seek justice, accountability, and safety reform to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
