Family of boy killed in 2023 boating accident in NH sues Boy Scouts

Yahoo

05-02-2025

Feb. 4—The family of an 11-year-old Boy Scout from Massachusetts who died after being struck by a propeller in a boating accident on a New Hampshire lake in 2023 has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the organization, calling the accident "horrific and preventable."
Keoni Hubbard, from Troop 119 in Lexington, Mass., died in the accident at Camp Bell on Manning Lake in Gilmanton on July 7, 2023.
New Hampshire State Police responded about 2:15 p.m. on that day. Police said Keoni was out on the water when the accident occurred and died of his injuries at the scene.
Manning Lake is on the Griswold Scout Reservation near Gilmanton Iron Works. According to the Daniel Webster Council website, two camps are located in the reservation, Hidden Valley Scout Camp and Camp Bell.
The lawsuit was filed in Hillsborough County Superior Court North on Tuesday on behalf of Keoni's parents, John and Jena Hubbard, by attorneys Brett Corson and J. Tucker Merrigan. The defendants include Boy Scouts of America, now known as Scouting America, and Daniel Webster Council, which operates the camps.
"Everything that we've uncovered about this Boy Scout camp's approach to boating safety seems to demonstrate a total disregard for common sense, as well as the Boy Scouts' own rules and safety principles," Merrigan said Tuesday in a Zoom conference with Keoni's parents. "This was truly a disaster waiting to happen. Keoni's family, friends and community are now living with a permanent hole in their lives."
Merrigan said the Hubbards are seeking three outcomes.
"Acknowledgement, take responsibility and make it right," Merrigan said. "And until those are met, this lawsuit will proceed, and we will pursue a verdict by a jury.
"We anticipate a jury to deliver a verdict well in excess of $100 million."
Merrigan said his clients also hope a comprehensive water safety program will be implemented for all Boy Scouts in America as a result of the lawsuit, and potentially adopted by other camps and institutions that care for children.
The lawsuit claims Keoni and seven other Boy Scouts were on a 21-foot powerboat with an 18-year-old driver who received his boating license 10 days prior. According to the suit, the driver had undergone less than one hour of training from the Griswold Reservation's director and had not received the reservation's water-ski syllabus or basic waterfront training.
"The camp leaders in charge placed the driver in a situation where the level of danger was beyond his ability to recognize, and it was in violation of multiple BSA rules," Merrigan said.
According to court documents, the boat's propeller struck Keoni while he was swimming in the lake.
The state Marine Patrol investigated the accident, and later issued a report citing a lack of training, failure in basic safety precautions, and failure in oversight by the Boy Scouts of America, the Griswold Scout Reservation, the Daniel Webster Council, Camp Bell, and Troop 119, which "placed the young boat operator and the eight Boy Scouts in the boat in a dangerous and untenable position," the suit says.
"As a result of the failures of the organizations and adult leaders at every level, the boat operator made a disastrous decision that killed Keoni Hubbard," Merrigan said.
Keoni's mother said she is a "completely different person" since the death of her son.
"Keoni was a gift," Jena Hubbard said in the Zoom conference. "He was an amazing son, brother, grandson, and friend. He wouldn't want his mom to be so sad. I'm devastated my son won't be able to grow up, figure out what he wants to do with his life, find someone to love and grow old with.
"I have a message for the Scouts — Keoni mattered, and so does the safety of the millions of other kids headed to Scout camps this year."
Jena Hubbard said shortly after her son died, she had to quit her job because "my grief consumes me out of nowhere, like a panic attack."
John Hubbard, Keoni's father, said as much as someone thinks they can imagine the pain of losing a child, "it's actually way worse than that."
"I am trapped in my own version of hell on earth," John Hubbard said. "A hell where the best part of the day is when I wake up and for half a moment, I forget my son is dead, but then I remember and somehow have to get up anyway. The best thing that we can do now is hold the Boy Scouts accountable, share our story, and — most importantly — help others the way Keoni did."
Scouting America issued a statement offering condolences but avoiding comment on pending litigation.
The Daniel Webster Council issued a statement of condolence in 2023.