Hanauma deaths result in lawsuit

Advertiser Staff

The families of two Chicago men who drowned while swimming in Hanauma Bay two years ago have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.

James Laughlin and Erik Powell were swimming in the popular bay with their families July 19, 2002, when lifeguards saw one of the men floating face down in an area of the bay that had been closed because of rough conditions. The man, identified as Powell, was taken to a hospital where he died.

About an hour later, Powell's wife said that her brother, Laughlin, had been swimming with Powell. Rescue crews went back and found Laughlin unconscious and he was later pronounced dead at The Queen's Medical Center.

The lawsuit was filed yesterday in U.S. District Court by attorney Ian Mattoch on behalf of Mary Powell, and Raginae and Chloe Laughlin, wife and daughter of James Laughlin. The families are seeking an undetermined amount in damages.

The lawsuit alleges that an employee at the bay's visitor center directed the families to swim at the southern edge of the bay. But the employee and other city officials "failed to adequately and properly warn Powell and Laughlin of the dangerous ocean conditions," particularly on the south side of the bay, the lawsuit alleges.

City officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.