Grapevine Family Receives Settlement in Daughters Boating Accident Death

The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson P.C. announces it has secured a $2.5 million settlement in the case of Judd L. Putnam, et al. v. Vincent M. Dawson, et al. The suit, which was filed in civil court in San Antonio, sought damages in the wrongful death of Laura Leigh Putnam, 23.

Ms. Putnam, who was boating on Lake LBJ near Austin on Memorial Day weekend, was killed when a boat driven by Robert N. Corrigan III struck her boat, knocking her overboard. Mr. Corrigan left the scene and did not attempt to help Ms. Putnam or the two other passengers in her boat.

Her body was found 13 days later.

A portion of the money was paid to Jerry Cypert, one of the other passengers in Ms. Putnam’s boat, and to Bill deTournillon of Lubbock, owner of the boat that Ms. Putnam was on. The majority of the settlement was paid to Ms. Putnam’s family.

On October 22, Mr. Corrigan pleaded guilty to failure to stop and render assistance. He was sentenced to six months in jail and received a $10,000 fine. State District Judge Guilford Jones also ordered a 3-year Memorial Day curfew for Mr. Corrigan, timed to coincide with Ms. Putnam’s death.

Mr. Corrigan was ordered to begin serving his sentence on November 12 at a Burnet County jail.

“Laura Putnam was only 23 years old, engaged to be married and ready to begin a new life,” says Frank Branson, who represented her family in the lawsuit. “Instead, her parents and her fiancé have to face a future without her in it. I hope that settlements like this send a message to boat owners to treat them as vehicles every bit as deadly as automobiles.”