Key West Injury Lawyer Blog
Katerina “Katy” Puig, who survived the 2022 Boca Chita boat crash that killed her classmate, was honored by the City of Miami, which proclaimed Thursday, July 10, as “Katy Puig Day,” according to The Miami Herald.
Puig was celebrated for her bravery Thursday by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez who presented her with a plaque while she attended the ceremony with her parents, Kathya and Rudy Puig.
Since the September 2022 crash that resulted in the tragic death of Luciana “Lucy” Fernandez, 20-year-old Puig remains in physical therapy to regain motor skills. She currently requires the use of a wheelchair after suffering brain injuries from the crash.
“In the face of tremendous adversity, Katy has shown exceptional strength and perseverance — overcoming unimaginable challenges with grace, determination, and an unbreakable will to move forward,” the plaque reads.
What Happened?
On Sept. 4, 2022, Lucy and Puig were two of at least 10 girls who were aboard the 29-foot Robalo vessel being operated by Doral real estate developer George Pino, the father of one of the girls on the boat. The tragic events began when Pino crashed into a fixed channel market at 50 mph, ejecting all on board and killing 17-year-old Lucy.
Pino was charged with three counts of careless boating in August 2023. These charges were later changed to vessel homicide, a felony.
Since then, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the agency investigating the crash, has come under scrutiny following reporting from The Miami Herald that alleged key evidence was ignored and mishandled.
Rodney Barreto, the FWC Chair, penned an Op-Ed in The Miami Herald last month disputing these claims.
“The FWC is firmly committed to conducting thorough, impartial investigations of all boating accidents within its jurisdiction,” he said. “This case was no exception.”
Pino’s trial was set to start on Monday, July 14, but has since been postponed for April or May of 2026 after attorneys requested additional time to take witness statements. He has pleaded not guilty.
Lucy’s Law
On July 1, Lucy’s Law, legislation that had the backing of the girl’s family, went into effect. This law provides stricter penalties for boaters who are convicted of operating a vessel under the influence and for those who leave the scene of an accident. It also aims to improve boaters’ education in the state.
The latest available data from the FWC shows that 65% of boaters involved in fatal 2024 boating crashes had no formal boat education.
For the attorneys at Leesfield & Partners, a law firm that has seen numerous boating accident cases and has represented injured clients and their grieving families in the fallout of these preventable incidents, these changes are “long overdue.”
Justin B. Shapiro, a Partner at the firm, recently spoke with reporters about Lucy’s Law and said that more still needs to be done to ensure safety.
“I don’t understand why we need a driver’s license to drive a car but not a boaters license to operate a boat when, in many ways, operating a boat is more difficult and more dangerous,” he said in the article.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with 49 years of experience handling every manner of injury in Florida. Whether on a cruise ship, at a resort or hotel, on the road or on the water, our skilled trial attorneys work diligently to secure the best possible outcome for every client. Leesfield & Partners has secured thousands of results throughout Florida, many of which have resulted in landmark verdicts and settlements for injured clients and grieving families.
In a state with over one million registered vessels, boating safety is nothing to be taken lightly. In its annual report, the FWC reported over 680 reportable boating accidents in Florida that caused the deaths of approximately 81 people and the injury of nearly 400 others. Alcohol and/or drug use was a factor in about 36% of boating fatalities, the data showed.
Leesfield & Partners actively pursues the best possible outcome for every client. Mr. Shapiro and Evan Robinson, a Trial Attorney at the firm, are representing a teen who suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a water tubing accident.
That case is ongoing.
“The dangers from boating incidents are entirely underestimated as South Florida becomes more congested, drinking on the water becomes more prevalent and distractions from cell phones and other devices increases,” said Ira Leesfield, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner who has regularly called for the improvement of boating safety in Florida. “Important safety standards must be enforced on all watercrafts.”
Previous Boating Cases
Previously, the firm secured a substantial settlement in a case involving a minor who lost a leg while not being supervised on a vessel.
The firm previously handled the case of a family whose young son was snorkeling when he was hit and killed by a passing boater. The boater in that case was also a minor who should never have been given permission to operate the vessel without supervision. Not only did this minor not stop, but he attempted to cover up evidence and lied to police when questioned.
Neighbors later testified that this minor regularly operated the boat in a reckless manner.
The firm represented the family of a young woman, 20, who tragically died when the vessel she was on crashed into a concrete dock. The firm secured over $1.3 million for the family when it was revealed that the boat operator had been drinking and speeding the night of the crash.
In a jet ski and boat crash, Leesfield & Partners attorneys secured $935,750 for their client.
In a boat case involving a foreign resort, the firm secured an $800,000 recovery for the injured client.
Another boating accident involving a negligent operator resulted in a $500,000 recovery.
In addition to boating accident litigation, Leesfield & Partners have represented the victims of various water-related accidents, including drownings, jet ski crashes, parasailing, and other recreational activities.
The firm represented the widow of a man who drowned while on a boat tour at the Dry Tortugas National Park. The company’s tour guides instructed the man where he should go to snorkel and, within minutes, his body was found unresponsive.
The firm secured a six-figure recovery in that case.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Leesfield & Partners Trial Attorney, represented the family of a young man and father-to-be who was lobster diving when he was killed by a law enforcement officer who negligently failed to adhere to divers-down flag laws.
