The husband of a woman who was lost at sea in March 1999 is suing a Maui company that rented the couple a kayak.
The lawsuit filed in federal court yesterday by Los Angeles attorney Peter Schey and Maui attorney Teresa Tico on behalf of Manouchehr Monazzami Taghadomi is seeking more than $3 million from Extreme Sports Maui.
After renting the kayak, Monazzami was later found on Kaho‘olawe and told rescuers that he and his wife, Nahid Davoodabadi, rented the kayak while on their honeymoon, were swept out to sea by strong winds and currents, capsized repeatedly and that a shark attacked his wife after nightfall, severing her left arm.
Monazzami said he could not stop his wife’s bleeding, and she died on the kayak. He said waves continued to knock the kayak, causing his wife’s body to be lost at sea.
The lawsuit claims the kayak rental company was negligent in not telling the couple that small craft advisories had been issued; provided no flares, cell phone or two-way radio in case of emergency; did not warn them about sharks; and did not alert the Coast Guard or take any other action when the kayak was not returned by the close of business on March 19, 1999.
Ricker Alford, who identified himself as Extreme Sports Maui president, declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying he had not seen it.
