Austin and Perry: Federal Judge says parents can sue
A new ruling further divides two families even further.
According to court documents, a federal judge has ruled that the family of Perry Cohen can file a lawsuit against the family of Austin Stephanos in state court.
The state opened a criminal investigation in December of Austin’s mother for possible child neglect. Investigators found probable cause to charge Carly Black, but the state attorney said there was not enough proof.
According to the report, Black allowed the teens to “go offshore into the Atlantic Ocean, an inherently dangerous environment, in a minimally equipped 19-foot boat with a single outboard motor without adult or parental supervision,” and without a radio or an emergency beacon that could have been used to find them.
Last month, Carley Black tried to limit the value of all losses on the boat to $500.
This week’s ruling lifts a former injunction that prevented the Cohen’s from seeking more than $500 in any potential future civil lawsuit.
The Cohen’s asked a judge to move quickly to allow them to file suit in state court. They are citing a statute of limitation that’s approaching later this month.
As of now, a formal lawsuit has not been filed yet.
July 13,2017