Sole Survivor Of Fishing Boat Sinking Files $10M Lawsuit

ST. MARY'S COUNTY, MD — The lone survivor of a 2016 boating mishap that killed three fishermen when their craft capsized in the Potomac River during a fishing tournament is suing the event organizers. Jason Downing of Mechanicsville is suing the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association for $10 million. His lawsuit claims that the association didn't end the competition to protect participants from incoming foul weather.

Downing and three other men quit fishing early because of the weather on Nov. 19, 2016, and were headed back to Combs Creek Marina when the boat’s captain sent out a mayday signal. As high winds and waves hit the boat owned by Gregory Moore, 55, of Mechanicsville, it sank. Moore, William Edelen Jr., 48, of White Plains, and Roger Grissom, 52, of Hughesville, all died in th freezing water, according to court records. Rescuers found Downing alive on the hull of the capsized boat the next morning.

A U.S. Coast Guard crew and good Samaritans found the bodies of Moore and Edelen that morning, while it was months before Grissom's body was found miles away.

In his lawsuit Downing claims that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the accident. The Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association has denied any wrongdoing in the deaths.

"Mr. Downing continues to suffer both physical and psychological trauma as a result of the subject incident, to include diagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and back injuries necessitating surgery, and other injuries from which he will never recover, and has suffered a loss of wages and wage earning capacity,” according to the lawsuit, the Capital-Gazette reports. “Ms. Downing has suffered a loss of society and consortium.”

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