12/2/13 - An out-of-court agreement appears to have brought to an end a lawsuit filed against Mt. Brighton for an accident more than five years ago. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit by the family of Austin Miles, had been set for trial January 7th. But court records show it was dismissed November 13th, with a judgment for No Cause of Action entered two days later. The suit alleged that Robert Sturgis, who was driving a snow groomer at the time of the January 30th, 2008 incident, was negligent and reckless in his operation of the machine when he ran into the then-12-year-old Austin Miles, a Canadian citizen, and dragged him while his leg was snagged. Timothy Loranger, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, would only say that the lawsuit was resolved to the satisfaction of all the parties when asked by WHMI if a financial settlement had been offered by Mt. Brighton, which was bought last year by Veil Resorts. Miles was on a school field trip and had just skied down a beginner slope when the snow groomer ran over him. The lawsuit claimed Sturgis continued for another 200 feet despite several bystanders yelling at him to stop. It also alleged the grooming machine had a cracked mirror and inadequate visibility through the windows and that Mt. Brighton failed to post required notices warning skiers of snow grooming operations. (JK)
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