A lawyer representing the builder of the Bayesian superyacht, which sank off the coast of Sicily, has filed a lawsuit against the widow of tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch for nearly $250 million,on Friday, alleging that the accident inflicted “reputational damage” on the shipbuilder, according to the New York Post.
The lawsuit lodged in Palermo by lawyer Tommaso Bertuccelli on behalf of The Italian Sea Group (TISG), places the blame for the vessel’s sinking on Lynch’s widow, Angela Bacares, and the boat crew.It claims that TISG suffered significant business losses as a result of the sinking.
However, TISG quickly distanced itself from the lawsuit, asserting that it had not authorised the filing and requesting that Bertuccelli withdraw the claim. “The Italian Sea Group … strongly denies the claims published in [Italian newspaper] La Nazione regarding a legal action following the Bayesian tragedy,” a spokesperson said. “Although TISG has given a generic mandate to the lawyers named in the article, no legal representative of the company has examined, signed or authorized any writ of summons.”
Mike Lynch, a British billionaire, lost his life on August 19 when a fierce storm struck the $40 million yacht he was aboard. The incident also claimed the lives of six others, including Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch. Among the deceased were Jonathan Bloomer, Chris Morvillo, Neda Morvillo, Charlotte Golunski, Ayla Ronald and Angela Bacares.
TISG has stated that it will not seek damages from the crew or Lynch’s widow. Giovanni Costantino, TISG’s CEO, had previously branded the yacht “unsinkable” and indicated that human error was to blame for the disaster. However, he has faced backlash for his handling of the situation, with critics saying he is trying to shift blame amid a growing public relations crisis.
The lawsuit lodged in Palermo by lawyer Tommaso Bertuccelli on behalf of The Italian Sea Group (TISG), places the blame for the vessel’s sinking on Lynch’s widow, Angela Bacares, and the boat crew.It claims that TISG suffered significant business losses as a result of the sinking.
However, TISG quickly distanced itself from the lawsuit, asserting that it had not authorised the filing and requesting that Bertuccelli withdraw the claim. “The Italian Sea Group … strongly denies the claims published in [Italian newspaper] La Nazione regarding a legal action following the Bayesian tragedy,” a spokesperson said. “Although TISG has given a generic mandate to the lawyers named in the article, no legal representative of the company has examined, signed or authorized any writ of summons.”
Mike Lynch, a British billionaire, lost his life on August 19 when a fierce storm struck the $40 million yacht he was aboard. The incident also claimed the lives of six others, including Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch. Among the deceased were Jonathan Bloomer, Chris Morvillo, Neda Morvillo, Charlotte Golunski, Ayla Ronald and Angela Bacares.
TISG has stated that it will not seek damages from the crew or Lynch’s widow. Giovanni Costantino, TISG’s CEO, had previously branded the yacht “unsinkable” and indicated that human error was to blame for the disaster. However, he has faced backlash for his handling of the situation, with critics saying he is trying to shift blame amid a growing public relations crisis.