Balboa Bay Club Sues U.S. for $983,041 in Cutter Incident
The swank Balboa Bay Club sued the federal government Tuesday for nearly $1 million, alleging that the wake from a speeding Coast Guard cutter severely damaged its marina nearly two years ago.
In its suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the club alleged that the 82-foot cutter, Point Divide, violated the 5-m.p.h. speed limit in Newport Bay’s Lido Channel on Dec. 18, 1985.
The private club claimed the cutter was traveling at 17-23 m.p.h. as it cruised through the channel at 6:30 p.m.
As a result, the suit said, “a four-to-six-foot wake slammed” into the dock of the club’s marina, severely damaging the pilings, floats, piers and head wall. The club said damages totaled $983,041.
Coast Guard officials were not immediately available for comment.
Joining the club as a plaintiff in the suit was Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., which said in court papers that it paid $805,684 to repair the marina.
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