Remember after New Orleans flooded and those neighbors helped each other get to higher ground? Remember how people came together and helped each other even though they, too, had lost everything? Yes, those were amazing sights to see as they took whatever boat, canoe or raft they could find to bring people out of the flooded areas. Well, it seems that one man, who rescued over 200 of his neighbors, is now being sued because the boat he used didn’t belong to him, he didn’t have permission to use it and he also didn’t return it.
Mark Morice, appearing with his attorney, said he used a boat from the home of John Lyons on State Street Drive to bring people to safety. Lyons’ boat was behind a gate and partially submerged in water, but the key was in the ignition.
“I did it out of necessity; I did it for my neighbors,” Morice said. “I did it because I’ve got eyes, ears; the ability to be able to work and react. That’s why I did it.”
The people he rescued didn’t care where he got the boat and they didn’t ask. They only cared that he saved them from their flooded homes!
One of the people he rescued was 86-year-old Molly Gordon and her 93-year-old husband.
“And he pulled the boat up to our house, came in, carried my husband out to the boat; brought us to Memorial Hospital,” said Gordon.
Morice left the boat at St. Charles Avenue to be used by other rescuers and when he returned to help bring more people out of the flooded area, the boat was gone. He did not steal the boat for his own advantage, he took it to help his neighbors and now Lyons is suing Morice for $12,000 because his insurance won’t cover it.
I don’t know about this. I understand the guy being ticked off because his insurance wouldn’t cover the loss of his boat, but to sue the guy who used it to save all those people…it just seems so petty.
Hopefully enough coverage will shame Lyons into taking a different perspective on his situation. I’m sure any damages to the boat would have occurred with or without Morice. Any reason on why the boat was never returned, though?
Now I’ve heard everything Anna!..sheesh is all I have to say!:)
word, I’m sure Lyons will be shamed, though I do understand his point. I just think it’s petty. $12,000 or 200 lives…doesn’t quite compare. As for where the boat ended up, I have no idea! The article just said it couldn’t be found.
I know, Angel, I hear you.
I aw that last night and just couldn’t believe it! Well that’s not true; unfortunetly I know there’s such nonsense that goes on every day. It’s just that in this case it takes it to a new level.
Perhaps the boat owner is doing this as leverage to get his insurance to reconsider and pay.
See if the court filing identifies the insurance agency, and the insurance company’s reason/excuse for denying the claim. (Perhaps because the owner left the keys in the boat?)
Monsiuer Lyon has some gall oui?
Unbelievable. C’est stupide!
Isn’t it sad that such things no longer surprise us, yankeemom?
You could very well be right, Cornfed. If it’s State Farm, they probably will turn around and pay after the law suits they are facing from people down there.
Leaving the keys in the boat could be construed as negligence couldn’t it?
Uh oh, are becoming French, Anna? Say it ain’t so!
Now THAT is ridiculous!
Arggghhhhh!!!!!!!
I just don’t understand that with everything else, this guy’s ticked about his stupid boat!
That about covers it Budgie!
I tend to go French when it concerns stupid acts from the state of Louisiana and its Code Napoleanic legal system. It seems fitting.
That’s very true, Anna!