PITTSBURGH – A Florida man who was seriously wounded by a motorboat propeller has brought legal action against the pilot of the boat and two of his fellow passengers, seeking damages to remedy the litany of injuries that he suffered.
Trevor Manko of Key Largo, Fla. filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Sept. 29 versus Steven Penrod of Pittsburgh, plus Mark Huckabee and Leigh Huckabee of Venetia.
“The events herein complained of occurred on or about Aug. 29, 2021, at approximately 5 p.m., on the Monongahela River, near Roscoe, Pennsylvania. On said date and time, defendant Steven Penrod, was the operator of a 2019 Super Air Nautique G23. The aforementioned motorboat is believed to be a 23-foot open motorboat with gas engine and propeller, capable of delivering at least 450 horsepower and 465 foot-pounds of torque,” the suit says.
“At all times material hereto, it is believed, and therefore averred, that the motorboat was owned by defendants Mark Huckabee and Leigh Huckabee. At all times material hereto, defendant Steven Penrod, was operating the motorboat under the direction and supervision and with the permission and consent of its owners. It is believed, and therefore averred, that prior to the event complained of herein, defendant Steven Penrod, had consumed alcoholic beverages, including beer and tequila.”
The suit adds that defendant Steven Penrod “had consumed sufficient alcohol such that he was intoxicated and/or was rendered incapable of safely operating or being in actual physical control of the movement of the motorboat.”
“On said date, there were approximately nine passengers on the motorboat, including the plaintiff Trevor Manko, defendant Steven Penrod, defendants Leigh Huckabee and defendant Mark Huckabee, two other adult passengers and three minor-children. At all times material hereto, defendants Leigh Huckabee and Mark Huckabee were in such a position that she could observe the actions of the operator and the passengers of the motorboat and communicate with them. Immediately prior to the incident complained of herein, defendant Mark Huckabee, was attempting to wake surf in the wake of the motorboat,” the suit states.
“Plaintiff Trevor Manko and other passengers were instructed to position themselves in the bow section of the motorboat to redistribute the weight thereon. It is believed and therefore averred that repositioning the weight of the boat impacts the type of wake created and permits different wake surfing maneuvers to be executed. While plaintiff Trevor Manko was in the bow section of the motorboat, defendant Steven Penrod, suddenly and without warning, operated the motorboat in such a negligent, careless and reckless manner that caused the plaintiff to be thrown from the motorboat and into the water. While plaintiff Trevor Manko was in the water, defendant Steven Penrod, negligently, carelessly and recklessly continued to operate the motorboat and its propeller, causing the plaintiff to be run over and struck with the propeller.”
Among the injuries the plaintiff suffered were the following: Open navicular fracture of the left foot; displaced fracture of left navicular bone extending to articular surface of midtarsal joint; large laceration of the left foot with degloving; large laceration to the left tibia; rupture of extensor tendons, left ankle and foot; procedures for open reduction left navicular fracture; irrigation and sharp excisional debridement left foot open fractures, left mid-tibia wound, skin to bone; and complex layered closure left foot and leg traumatic wounds, 20 cm total; left percutaneous Achilles lengthening procedure with first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis with calcaneal autograft and extensor hallucis longus transfer and procedure for Achilles reconstruction.
For multiple counts of negligence, carelessness and recklessness, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of arbitration limits of Allegheny County, plus punitive damages, court costs, attorney’s fees and any other relief this Honorable Court deems appropriate.
The plaintiff is represented by Lawrence E. Gurrera II of Gurrera Law, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-22-012418
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com