A pair of wrongful death lawsuits filed by Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C. over fatal drownings at Conimicut Point Park were profiled by the Providence Journal.
As reported by the Providence Journal, our firm represents two families in lawsuits that accuse the City of Warwick of failing to adequately warn visitors about dangerous tide changes despite the park’s history of drownings and near-drowning events. These lawsuits are intended to provide our clients with the justice they deserve, and to compel city leaders into taking actionable steps to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
Given that summer is here and more beachgoers will be traveling to Conimicut Point Park, we are also hopeful that these cases and the coverage they’ve received will raise awareness about the park’s dangerous conditions and alert beachgoers about the need to remain vigilant near the water.
About the Lawsuits
The lawsuits filed by our firm stem from two separate drownings that occurred on Father’s Day 2021. The victims in these incidents were a 10-year-old girl from Providence, who had been swept off the point’s sandbar and pulled underwater by an incoming surge of water, and a 35-year-old father of two, who had jumped into the water in an attempt to help save the little girl.
These tragedies, our lawsuits note, are unfortunately not uncommon. Between 1998 and 2019, there have been at least four fatal drownings and five near-drowning events, including one involving a victim who suffered severe brain damage and later died from their injuries, documented at Conimicut Point Park.
As Principal Shareholder and Senior Trial Attorney Mark B. Decof noted in the complaints, the city should have been aware of these past events and that the extremely dangerous conditions, including the hazardous tide changes that claimed the lives of our clients’ loved ones, were not apparent to visitors. As such, the complaint alleges, the city should have taken “appropriate measures to enhance and ensure safety,” such as installing appropriate warning signs, barricading the hazardous area, and guarding it for safety.
You can read the full Providence Journal article about our cases here.
Dangerous Conditions, Drownings Continue to Plague Conimicut Point Park
As our firm continues to litigate these cases and help our clients fight for the justice and compensation they deserve, the fact remains that dangerous conditions and drownings continue to plague Conimicut Point Park. In fact, as the Providence Journal reports, our lawsuits were filed just weeks after a 28-year-old East Greenwich woman drowned at the park under similar circumstances.
The City of Warwick has recently put into operation a new warning system at the beach, complete with lights, sirens, and an audio message that urges visitors to stay out of the water when conditions become unsafe.
Proven Experience in Drowning & Near-Drowning Cases
Civil lawsuits involving drowning, which is fatal, and near-drowning, which often results in catastrophic injury, are complex and consequential claims.
They are typically based on premises liability and can be brought against private and public individuals and entities who fail to take reasonable measures to keep visitors and guests safe from foreseeable risks of harm. This could include failing to adequately supervise swimmers, failing to erect fencing around a swimming pool that children can easily access, or, as we allege in our lawsuits against the City of Warwick, failing to implement adequate safety and warning measures despite knowing about considerable drowning risks.
At Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C., our award-winning attorneys have extensive experience litigating injury and wrongful death claims involving drowning, near drowning, and other water-related accidents across Rhode Island, and have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
If you have questions about a potential case, we’re available to help. Call (401) 200-4059 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer.