Children seek damages in speedboat accident

PORTLAND – The children of a woman killed in a boating accident on Long Lake last summer have sued a Massachusetts man who police say was driving the speedboat that struck her and her companion.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Cumberland County Superior Court by three children – ages 16, 25 and 26 – of Suzanne Groetzinger, 44, of Berwick. Groetzinger and Terry Raye Trott of Naples were killed when their 14-foot boat was struck by a high-powered speedboat on the night of Aug. 11.

Robert LaPointe, 39, of Medway, Mass., is named as a defendant. Police say he was intoxicated and operating his boat in reckless manner when it sliced the other boat in half. His blood alcohol content was 0.11 percent about two hours after the crash.

LaPointe has pleaded not guilty to seven criminal charges, including two counts of manslaughter.

Also named as defendants are LaPointe’s father and Rick’s Cafe, a popular bar and restaurant in Naples where prosecutors say LaPointe was drinking before the collision. The suit argues employees at Rick’s should have recognized LaPointe was “visibly intoxicated” and known he could pose a danger in his boat.

It also alleges that Robert LaPointe transferred property to his father after being served with notice of intent to sue by Groetzinger’s children and just seven days before he was charged with manslaughter, in violation of Maine’s Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act.

The complaint alleges the property transfer was an attempt to conceal assets in anticipation of Robert LaPointe’s potential financial liability because of the crash.