Widow Sues Virginia Subdivision in Boating Death

A Fauquier County, Va., woman has filed a $6 million wrongful-death lawsuit against an Orange County subdivision in a boating accident that killed her husband.

Michele Goodman is suing Lake of the Woods Association and Charles Schulle, who was operating the pontoon boat that fatally struck Jason Goodman in July 2010. The Free Lance-Star reports that the lawsuit also seeks $500,000 in punitive damages against Schulle.

Goodman accuses Schulle and the association of negligence, claiming that the association operated the lake in an unsafe manner.

In its response, the association says it had no control over Schulle or the fatal accident. Schulle’s response asserts that Goodman’s own negligence contributed to his death.

Schulle was convicted of operating a boat in a reckless manner, a misdemeanor. He paid a $1,000 fine.