GALVESTON – Alleging he sustained injuries on the beach in Texas City last year due to a defective piece of kitesurfing equipment, Harris County resident Filip Crabbs has pursued legal action.
A lawsuit filed on Oct. 16 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas claims Crabbs used a 2011 Cabrinha Control Bar manufactured and sold by Adventure Sports Hawaii, Inc. which malfunctioned while he was kitesurfing on Mar. 7, 2016.
Recent court documents state that the product’s “QR1” and “QR2” emergency releases failed to work properly when the wind forced the kite into “circular upwards and downwards motions” and caused it to drag the plaintiff toward the beach.
“Mr. Crabbs attempted to pull the QR1 emergency release on the Control Bar release the tension on the kite lines,” the original petition says. “He then attempted to pull the QR2 emergency release to detach his harness from the kite; however, both releases failed activate. The kite dragged him off the water and onto the beach, where he collided with a wall of rocks, causing serious bodily injury.”
Crabbs insists he did nothing to contribute to the subject event, adding he “was a well-trained kite surfer, with extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with respect to emergency procedures.”
Consequently, the complainant seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by attorney Scott P. Armstrong of the law firm Armstrong Lee Savage LLP in Houston.
Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 3:17-CV-0311