Butkera v. Hudson River Sloop "Clearwater", Inc.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

PRESSLER, P.J.A.D.

Alana Butkera, then a nine-year old fourth-grader, went on a school-supervised excursion on the sloop Clearwater, which plies the Hudson River in its educational mission. The boat docked on its return in Jersey City and, as Alana was disembarking, she fell into an open hatch and sustained injuries. Her mother, plaintiff Rosearme Butkera, both individually and as Alana’s guardian, brought this action against The Hudson River Sloop “Clearwater,” Inc. (Clearwater), the owner and operator of the sloop, and against the Warren Board of…