Lamartek Inc., which does business as Dive Rite Express, was cleared May 20 of any responsibility for the death of underwater photographer Wesely Skiles, who died while using its rebreather during a dive off the Florida coast in 2010.
Jurors in Palm Beach County Circuit Court found Larmartek had not sold any defective gear that lead to Skiles death, did not fail to warn him of a dangerous defect that was the legal cause of his death and that the company bore no negligence in Skiles death.
Skiles widow Terri Skiles had sought $25 million in damages from the company after her attorney argued Lamartek had not adequately tested the rebreather used by husband when he died/ Skiles was filming Goliath Grouper for National Geographic when he died.
Larmartek’s attorney argued that Skiles, 53, was not certified to use the special breathing apparatus he was using when he lost consciousness while ascending from 83 feet off the coast of Boynton Beach, Fla. and died.
