Lawsuit negotiations in fatal boat crash

SACRAMENTO, CA (KGO) -- Lawyers met Tuesday in Sacramento to discuss several lawsuits filed over a fatal boat accident last year on Clear Lake.

As the ABC7 News I-Team reported last week, Russell Perdock, the number two man in the Lake County Sheriff's Department, slammed his speedboat into a sailboat at night, killing Lynn Thornton of Willows.

Willows' 21-year-old son, John Thornton, is suing Chief Deputy Perdock along with the owner of the sailboat and several others.

"It's never been the same without her, and each day gets a little better, easier, but I mean I'm always going to feel that hurt, you know? And nothing could ever bring her back," said Thornton.

Prosecutors charged the man who was steering the sailboat with manslaughter, alleging the boat's lights were off at the time.

Both Perdock and his attorney declined to comment Tuesday, but Perdock has told the I-Team he did not break any laws the night of the crash.

BLOG:
Read Dan Noyes' blog on the latest developments.

Have a tip on this or another investigation? E-mail the ABC7 I-Team or call 1-888-40-I-TEAM.

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