Exactly what happened on the night that Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and two other men passed away is not clear, but that has not stopped the other men’s families from suing Fernandez’s estate.
When the news broke that Miami Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez passed away, the outpouring of grief around Major League Baseball was immediate. Fernandez was a well-liked young star, who was just entering his prime playing years.
It is not yet certain what happened.
It is believed that Fernandez got into an argument with his girlfriend and to calm himself down, decided to go boating late at night. Two of his friends went with them. In the dark, they did not see a pier and rammed it, capsizing the boat.
All three men died.
It was later revealed that Fernandez had large amounts of alcohol and cocaine in his system. The investigation is still open, as authorities have thus far been unable to determine which of the men was driving the boat.
That uncertainty, however, has not delayed the families of the other two men from claiming that Fernandez was responsible for the accident according to FOX News in “Families of men killed with Jose Fernandez file lawsuits.”
An attorney representing both families has filed lawsuits on their behalf against Fernandez’s estate. Both lawsuits are requesting $2 million in damages.
An attorney for the estate has indicated that a settlement is not likely, given the uncertainty about who was driving the boat. Clearing up that mystery, could go a long way in determining whether these lawsuits have any chance of success.
Nevertheless, it is certain that the existence of the lawsuits will cause delays in settling Fernandez’s estate.
Reference: FOX News (Feb. 11, 2017) “Families of men killed with Jose Fernandez file lawsuits.”
