Philadelphia, PA
—Attorney Robert J. Mongeluzzi's Philadelphia law firm demonstrated in court how tourist duck boats are engineered 'deathtraps' operating on land and in the water. Following yesterday's duck boat disaster in Branson, Missouri, the firm is again calling for a national ban on the vehicles.
Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, P.C., which has represented tourist victims of duck boat fatalities on the Delaware River and on a city street in Philadelphia, extends its deepest sympathies to the victims of the Missouri tragedy and is again urging Federal and state transportation officials to immediately halt all duck boat operations.
"There have now been more than 40 deaths associated with these inherently unsafe, novelty tourist rides," said Mr. Mongeluzzi. "After this tragedy, we again ask, What does it take for tour operators to realize that they cannot value profit more than human life and public safety? Why would those boats, which ride very low in the water on a calm day, even be operating given the severe weather conditions and posted small craft advisories? It was unconscionable. "
The 2010 Philadelphia case settled collectively for $17 million just before going to a Federal court jury.
