Michigan City Settles Lawsuit Over St. Charles Man’s Drowning

The wife and children of a St. Charles man who drowned after rescuing five family members will receive a $400,000 settlement that also will require South Haven, Mich., to install safety measures on its South Beach, according to a story from the Kalamazoo Gazette on Mlive.com.

Martin Jordan was 45 when he drowned Aug. 1, 2009, after rescuing  his son, nephew and three nieces from strong rip currents. Attorneys for his estate and wife, Maureen, sued in 2011, alleging the city did not have enough safety measures in places to warn of dangerous conditions, and that the city should have closed the beach when the riptides developed.

The Kalamazoo Gazette reported that the $400,000 settlement will go to Jordan’s wife for the benefits of the couple’s family. They have four children.

But the settlement also requires that South Haven set up a beach safety program. As a part of that, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported. Part of that was the installation this season of a flag notification system to inform visitors of swimming conditions. The system, the story states, is in places at the two city beaches and their seven access points.

The settlement included the installation of a couple of 911 call boxes — one on each beach — which was done in the spring. Also, the city will install a plaque memorializing Jordan. The memorial will be created near the beach, and a dedication ceremony his family ca attend will be held.

The full Kalamazoo Gazette story can be read at Mlive.com.

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