Ballweg v. City of Springfield

Hobie Cat II.

A new trial must take place.

A boating accident on Lake Springfield resulted in the electrocution deaths of Donna Ballweg and Jana Welch. The administrator of Ballweg’s estate brought the present action against the manufacturer of the boat, Coast Catamaran Corporation (Coast), and Coast’s parent company, the Coleman Company (Coleman).

Judgment was entered on a jury verdict in favor of Ballweg for $304,388.35 compensatory damages and $1,021,833 punitive damages. Coast and Coleman appeal.

The evidence relating to the circumstances of the accident was essentially the same as that set…