CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A lawsuit has been filed after now-21-month-old Vianca Grullon was severely injured in a boating incident in Clay County in August.
Her family claims they purchased a defective boat that flipped over in calm water.
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Action News Jax’s Shanila Kabir spoke to the family’s attorney and learned the child suffered severe brain damage.
The family said Vianca almost drowned when their boat, a Seadoo Switch, similar to a pontoon boat, malfunctioned and flipped over.
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“She was trapped by her lifejacket that holding her up and this vessel was pushing her down,” Judd Rosen, attorney from Goldberg and Rosen, said.
Lawyers said Vianca was underwater for several minutes in the Black Creek Marina.
“They knew their daughter was underneath the boat and their franticness. The father was reaching under, and he grabbed what he thought was his daughter, but it turned out to be a bag instead,” Rosen said.
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Vianca survived but the lawsuit claims she suffers from a severe and permanent brain injury after falling out of the boat on August 25. The family said they are not ready to go on camera, but their lawyers from Goldberg and Rosen Lawfirm held a news conference advocating on their behalf.
“She has neurologically devastating injuries and needs around-the-clock medical care for feeding, rehabilitation, and for life,” Rosen said.
The Seadoo Switch was manufactured by Bombardier Recreational Products and the Grullon family bought the boat at Jacksonville Power Sports. The family is suing both companies, claiming false advertisement and for damages.
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“This is the first of its kind type of boat. It’s basically a failed experiment of a vessel. What happened was the Seadoo company which specializes in jet skis and fast boats is trying to get into the pontoon industry,” Rosen said.
The lawyers are anticipating Vianca’s future needs because of this life-changing accident will be more than $30 million.
Action News Jax reached out to both defendants for comments, both said statements are not available at this time.
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