For many parents, the thought of losing a child is almost too much to bear. Unfortunately for two parents in Texas, John and Copper Comita, they’ve had to face every parent’s worst nightmare and filed a wrongful death lawsuit as a result. Their lawsuit was filed against the Boy Scouts of America after their son, 15-year-old boy scout Reid Comita, died from heatstroke during a mountain hike in Texas. The lawsuit was filed because they believe the organization was responsible for their son’s death.
For many parents, the thought of losing a child is almost too much to bear. Unfortunately for two parents in Texas, John and Copper Comita, they’ve had to face every parent’s worst nightmare and filed a wrongful death lawsuit as a result. Their lawsuit was filed against the Boy Scouts of America after their son, 15-year-old boy scout Reid Comita, died from heatstroke during a mountain hike in Texas. The lawsuit was filed because they believe the organization was responsible for their son’s death.
The accident itself occurred after Reid “signed up in June for an Introduction to Backpacking course,” and was the final task he needed to achieve before officially becoming an Eagle Scout. Before setting out on the advanced hike, the course was “supposed to begin with two days of training.” However, Reid’s parents claim he was “immediately sent on an extremely aggressive hike in temperatures that produced a heat index in excess of 100 degrees.” They said, “He isn’t an athlete. He wasn’t prepared to go on an advanced hike.”
Not only was their son sent on an advanced hike in dangerously high temperatures, but the lawsuit against the organization also claims “Reid was with two other teens when he died,” which, according to his parents, was “a violation of Boy Scout safety rules requiring two adult supervisors.” Knowing this, Reid’s mother, Copper Comita said, “It’s just that much more pain.”
In response to the fatal incident, Areva Martin, a legal analyst, said:
“You don’t typically see a 15-year-old boy falling dead from a hike. The question is whether this hike was too rigorous for Reid. Whether the Boy Scouts knew what his physical condition was. Whether they should have had him on this hike in the first place is one question the boy scouts will have to answer.”
So what does the Boy Scouts of America have to say for itself? What is their take on the accusations being hurled at them by Reid’s grief-stricken parents? Well, in a recent statement to ABC News, the organization said:
“This remains a difficult time for our Scouting community, and we continue to keep the family in our thoughts and prayers. The health and safety of our youth members is of paramount importance. We strive to create a safe environment for youth to experience outdoor adventure.”
Unfortunately, Reid died before he was able to complete the final step to becoming an Eagle Scout, an accomplishment that many young boys aspire to reach. Despite his tragic death, though, “his troop awarded him the honor posthumously.”
Sources:
Boy Scouts sued after teen dies on quest to become Eagle Scout
Boy Scouts sued by grieving parents over hike that ended in death
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